2024 Draft Thread.

[Mat Mann]

Draft Period, November 20–21

• Round 1 of the National Draft: Wednesday, November 20
• Round 2–end of the National Draft: Thursday, November 21
• Rookie Promotions: Thursday, November 21, after the National Draft
• Delisted Free Agency Period (3): Thursday, November 21, after the National Draft
• List Lodgement 3*: Friday, November 22, 10am (optional; required for those participating in the PSD)
• Pre-Season Draft: Friday, November 22, 3pm
• Rookie Draft: Friday, November 22, 3.20pm

 

[bakes10]

I agree with you.

But if you take this board for example. That will be a very split opinion as a few prominent posters will be demanding finals

It’s like Lyon is playing the Paul Roos role when he set the foundation for Melbourne’s success 8 odd years earlier than when they won their flag.

 

[bakes10]

Its not ideal not adding elite midfielder/s, but I think we will be surprised by Garcia next season. He should play more midfield minutes and Pou and Windhager will continue to improve thats a given. Dow surely has to show something with a decent pre-season???

St Mike is big on Hall having an impact - its yet to be seen whether he is a midfielder at the next level. But Mike has a good eye for players on the track. The other is Carroll who Im hopeful can play some games.

Just having Macrae in the side will improve the players around him, but we are really relying on the listed players to improve. Its not great but its what we have and at least the rest of the list has improved significantly.

IF we can have a good run with injuries to key players we might be ok?

This might not be a popular view but if Windhager gets squeezed out of our midfield down the track, he’d make a bloody good back pocket with all his traits he could lock down the best small forwards and also provide offensive rebound. Imagine how much stronger and tougher he’d make our backline .

 

[SaintsSeptember]

This might not be a popular view but if Windhager gets squeezed out of our midfield down the track, he’d make a bloody good back pocket with all his traits he could lock down the best small forwards and also provide offensive rebound. Imagine how much stronger and tougher he’d make our backline .

I agree, but i don't even know who will be playing well in round 1 or how much Windhager can improve.
"Down the track" its possible Windhager could be one of our best players.

 

[saintmike65]

My point was more about impact then appearance. MaCkreigh is the only difference maker we've acquired this off-season so we'll be running essentially the same senior squad as last season sans Battle.
I don't think RTB will make any crazy changes so we basically know now what we've got. The difference makers will be individuals availabilities and growth.

We’ll know more once the match sim and trial matches get underway…great time of year when we have hope & expectations!

 

[saintmike65]

This might not be a popular view but if Windhager gets squeezed out of our midfield down the track, he’d make a bloody good back pocket with all his traits he could lock down the best small forwards and also provide offensive rebound. Imagine how much stronger and tougher he’d make our backline .

It’s not a silly idea if the boss doesn’t go with a tagger!
Windhager does seem to have difficulty reading the play & relies on the good players taking him to the contest.

 

[g_TRAIN]

Windy is still really young. With what he's shown so far it would be a shock if he doesn't end up a decent mid.

 

[Coconut_twirl]

One to track for next year

Gillon Wakelin Draft Profile

central.rookieme.com

Is he a key back like his Dad?

 

[Palantine]

Sitting down to pee is unfairly judged. Between work and chasing after three young kids sitting to piss is the only time I can get off my feet.

And before you smart arses say anything, yes, I shit standing up.

I’m in the same position, and get in the same position. We normally always wee while we plop so is someone now going to tell me this is wrong? Plus at 3am the sit is the silent execution.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Significant]

Is he a key back like his Dad?

Third tall, good endurance runner

 

[ScrappyDo]

Its not ideal not adding elite midfielder/s, but I think we will be surprised by Garcia next season. He should play more midfield minutes and Pou and Windhager will continue to improve thats a given. Dow surely has to show something with a decent pre-season???

St Mike is big on Hall having an impact - its yet to be seen whether he is a midfielder at the next level. But Mike has a good eye for players on the track. The other is Carroll who Im hopeful can play some games.

Just having Macrae in the side will improve the players around him, but we are really relying on the listed players to improve. Its not great but its what we have and at least the rest of the list has improved significantly.

IF we can have a good run with injuries to key players we might be ok?

I'm already convinced on McCray, Windy, Steele, Hugo and Pou. However that in itself still doesn't look like a premiership midfield (TBD).
The others we have are reasonable soldiers but are not difference makers, so l do believe we'll be better next year but are still over reliant on Pou and FAs/trades.

 

[dudeintheswamp]

Sitting down to pee is unfairly judged. Between work and chasing after three young kids sitting to piss is the only time I can get off my feet.

And before you smart arses say anything, yes, I shit standing up.

Nah, no time to sit down, gotta keep movin'.

 

[Joffaboy]

Missing guns between 24-28. Accelerating the development of the under 23s.

Have been in a ‘rebuild’ without bottoming out since we signed RTB hence the investment in the talent ID and development programs within the club.

No longer wasting time and resources on list cloggers, and bringing in kids with upside to replace them.

The only path to success for a club of our profile. Love what we’re doing.

Sent this via PM to a poster whom used to post here but I am still in touch with

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, Lyon worked out what he believes is the way to win flags in this era.

He has right from the beginning of this stint talked about run. He would not have taken the team on if the basis of the list was not able to run and have a tank.
The training standards from Ratten to Lyon are remarkable.

Lyon got together what he wanted as assistants, first the feel good factor with Lenny bj and Harvs, however while both bj and Lenny were fairly inexperienced, Harvey had extensive experience. He also retained Corey Enright the only assistant coach to be kept as he could see the quality of the guy.

Now Lenny is part time, bj shipped off to Sandy and Lyon has brought in Rivers and another ex head coach in Bolton.

At the same time he purged list management bringing in SoS, Misson, Dalrymple, getting rid of Gallagher and Toce.

This cleanout has been echo'ed by Bassatt first ruthlessly dumping Ratten, then seeing off both Finnis and Lethlean.

The club off the field has completely changed in just two years and the list has been totally revamped.

Phillipou, Van Es, Hotton, Keeler, Wilson, Collard, Hastie, Garcia, Shoenmaker Travaglia, Tauru, Barrat, BoxShall, Dodson, Said.

Two have already been cut, but the rest (the latest batch I can only go from reports and highlight reels) can run like the wind, can transition, and have excellent foot and hand skills, an absolute minimum for a Lyon trained team in the 6 6 6 and stand era.

Couple that with the likes of Jones, Howard, Webster, Stocker, (Wood?) only getting one year deals, and Cordy's final year, we have extreme pressure on these guys to perform or their careers are over.

The above 12 are in the short term competing for about 6 spots, but all of those draftees are very young with half a dozen still only just 18.
So medium to long term more than 6 may be first 23 starters.

Then we come to the recruits. Dow, Henry, Hall, Macrae, Caroll. Only one not an absolute mid is Henry who can run through the mids.

The big call this draft was mids, mids, mids, which I preferred, but when the top 6 were gone the strategy changed on night one to best available. Night two changed for need and we traded up twice for two more mids.

So say our starting midfield is Steele, Macrae, Clark and Dow. Look above who can run through the mids at any time, there is about 13 others.

Gringo has got it right in my view that a team can't carry too many pure mids in this era and they have to be able to play in a few positions, the Starting four above (Steele, Macrae, Clark and Dow) would be pure mids but apart from them the rest can really play in a number of positions.

The training staff look professional, the recruiting staff have shown since '21 our drafting has been good, our recruiting has been pinpointed for need and I have a feeling we have an LDU or a Callaghan locked in for 2026

The admin has been sorted and training standards are increasingly high. I think the club has gotten things correct off field, so exciting and hopeful times ahead.

 

[hangdog]

Sitting down to pee is unfairly judged. Between work and chasing after three young kids sitting to piss is the only time I can get off my feet.

And before you smart arses say anything, yes, I shit standing up.

Sitting to pee is a bloody underrated luxury.

 

[CursingFijian]

If Windhager tidies up his kicking he could be a Humphries clone.

But regardless of what he becomes I think he has been instrumental in setting a new training standard down a the club and being a totem for the other kids to gravitate towards.

He’s as important as Mason Wood

32

Mason Wood

Age

31

Ht

192cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

7.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.3

2star

D

8.3

2star

K

2.7

1star

HB

5.7

3star

M

1.7

2star

T

1.3

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

15.8

4star

K

8.6

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

in that regard.

 

[True Believer]

Disappointed in the number of simps meekly stepping forward to advocate on behalf of recumbent urinaters!

Sad day........

 

[gringo2011]

Windy is still really young. With what he's shown so far it would be a shock if he doesn't end up a decent mid.

Yep.He's not looking like one of the absolute freaks that come in and hit full production from day one but he stacks up to some very handy players.

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy...d2=8&type=A&pid1=6938&pid2=6466&fid1=O&fid2=O https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy...2=16&type=A&pid1=6938&pid2=4055&fid1=O&fid2=O

Marcus Windhager and Adam Cerra AFL Stats Comparison

Marcus Windhager and Adam Cerra AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Marcus Windhager and Jack Crisp AFL Stats Comparison

Marcus Windhager and Jack Crisp AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Marcus Windhager and Andrew Brayshaw AFL Stats Comparison

Marcus Windhager and Andrew Brayshaw AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Marcus Windhager and Zak Butters AFL Stats Comparison

Marcus Windhager and Zak Butters AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[SteeleSaints]

I actually don’t think the club bought Ross back to be our next premiership coach. I think the idea was to correct the course and lay the foundations for long term success. If that equates to a premiership in Ross’ tenure then great, if not, then he’s set us up in the long term.
If you listen to his language, and reflect on the moves made to the list, he’s The first we’ve had that doesn’t seem to be coaching for himself.
In the past we’ve had Watters, Richo & Ratten prioritise the short term because they didn’t have the courage/power to realign the clubs expectations
We are 2-3 seasons away from a sustained bounce, unfortunately it’s likely that will be in twilight of some of our favourites such as Steele, Wilkie & Sincs but we are on the right track, finally.

I have no doubt RTB has premiership/s in mind during his tenure. But he is also realistic understanding the list needed a huge overall, which he was transparent with Bassat before taking the job. Its a credit to him and the coaching group that we have mostly remained competitive over his first two years.

IF we can finally snag an elite midfielder or two next year as a free agent or otherwise then we will be away. LDU given his age and capacity would be the perfect fit, I hope the club are relentless in their pursuit with arranging a big 3rd party contract for him. We probably have the kids now to take us forward we just need exceptional players in that 24-28yo thresh hold.

I must add after being on the wrong end of another club poaching one of our key players this year, I do feel for clubs losing FA's chasing the big $$$ or sucess.

 

[sammm]

I can genuinely understand that after a few drinks.

I wouldn't understand it after a bottle

 

[_Maximus_12]

I have no doubt RTB has premiership/s in mind during his tenure. But he is also realistic understanding the list needed a huge overall, which he was transparent with Bassat before taking the job. Its a credit to him and the coaching group that we have mostly remained competitive over his first two years.

IF we can finally snag an elite midfielder or two next year as a free agent or otherwise then we will be away. LDU given his age and capacity would be the perfect fit, I hope the club are relentless in their pursuit with arranging a big 3rd party contract for him. We probably have the kids now to take us forward we just need exceptional players in that 24-28yo thresh hold.

I must add after being on the wrong end of another club poaching one of our key players this year, I do feel for clubs losing FA's chasing the big $$$ or sucess.

I feel nothing for North Melbourne. They just spent their future first on pick 27 to acquire a bloke who doesn’t have one single ‘elite’ trait except for the fact he’s 2m tall.
Everything they’re experiencing is self inflicted

 

[Joffaboy]

Why should we not be aiming for finals? If (big if) we have any sort of luck with injuries we can see what we can do with a full squad, take the last two months of the seasons as an example.

As for Lyon, why should he not be under pressure? I outlined above the ruthless competiveness he, in concert with Bassat has drill into the club on and off field. Why he should be able to sit back and be immune to the standards of the rest of the club is a curious take in my view.

In saying that I think Lyon DGAF about 'pressure'. Others have mentioned that he has been part of the recruiting and long term vision. There will always be pressure on a football club to perform and the coach as well, as there should be.

We can't go on forever saying 'don't expect finals'. We made it in 2023, were told we would take a step back in 2024, and that we would launch in 2025.

Well 2025 is next season.

 

[gringo2011]

I agree with you.

But if you take this board for example. That will be a very split opinion as a few prominent posters will be demanding finals

We should be aiming for finals and if Lyon doesn't make it happen or come close he should be under a lot of pressure. If the next challenge is without our older crew it will be a very long way off. Probably means 2030s before we are top 4 again and that's we can hold the side together.

Took over a side that sat on the fringes of finals and has been given everything we denied our last coaches and have a much better list. If at the end of his third year he hasn't progressed the side he probably needs to go for someone with some more energy and vision.

I like Ross and think he's a well above average coach but that doesn't give him a free pass.

 

[sammm]

Missing guns between 24-28. Accelerating the development of the under 23s.

Have been in a ‘rebuild’ without bottoming out since we signed RTB hence the investment in the talent ID and development programs within the club.

No longer wasting time and resources on list cloggers, and bringing in kids with upside to replace them.

The only path to success for a club of our profile. Love what we’re doing.

And especially that with tassie coming in, compromised drafts fir at keast 2 -3 years

 

[Mowman]

all of them. they made the commitment to the listed players at sandy they would rookie list one.

Seriously you think they should put someone on even though no one is good for that spot ?

You seem to enjoy finding a reason to put the club down

 

[Joffaboy]

I agree with you.

But if you take this board for example. That will be a very split opinion as a few prominent posters will be demanding finals

lol

You certainly smoked out a couple of 'prominent posters' with that post

 

[Mowman]

I agree with you.

But if you take this board for example. That will be a very split opinion as a few prominent posters will be demanding finals

You agree ?

When RTB 1st come back you were telling anyone that would listen he would have us as serious contenders next year