Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

neil wrote:

swoop42 wrote:I'm not sold on Pickett as yet.

No doubt highly talented but at this stage there appears to be queries over the defensive running side of his game. He's seen as being a bit of a Lewis Jetta type.

Slightly built indigenous small forwards to often seem to go missing in finals as well.

In fairness a lot of small forwards do.

Our record with indigenous boys isn't great either though I guess we need to try and change that at some stage.

Coming from WA the go home factor might scare us off to but that will probably depend a lot on his personality type and whether he has no trouble adapting to Melbourne life.

I have a small theory that our interest in Varcoe could in part be because we have a strong interest in Pickett and perhaps other indigenous players like Garlett or Cockatoo if we retain a pick in the 20's.

Our club is whiter than a roll of sorbent at present outside of Armstrong so adding Varcoe for not only what he offers on field isn't such a bad idea if it helps a Pickett settle in easier to his new surroundings.

I still think if we end up with a mid 20's pick someone like Garlett or Cockatoo might be available who have similar attributes to Pickett so we may go for something different at pick 5.

Of course that theory could be switched and we go for someone like a Langford if we have a pick 25 or so.

Pick 5 for a small forward are you shitting me? Small forwards are second/third round picks.
A quality true mid every time or a great KPF although with Moore it is not a priority this year.

Not really interested in Pickett. Small forward types can be found in later rounds as you say. Leon wasn't an early draft pick.

Tom Langdon's brother is one who should still be there at 30. McLean as well. Both promising smaller forward types

No interest in Durdin. Rather take a risk with Lever if we want to go tall. Higher ceiling. Be shocked if we take the risk though.

Ahern and Weller look the best of the rest when it comes to genuine midfielders.

Laverde if we think he can develop into that bigger bodied midfielder has genuine appeal.

Wright would have to be seriously considered if he was still available at 5.

In Hine we trust.

^ Agree

So no pick 23.

We've got just over a day to try and change pick 5 into something else.

Will we?

While I would have preferred 23 I think we can still land a player with some genuine talent at 30.

I really like the sound of this kid:

Dean Gore (Sturt)

Born 26.6.1996, 183cm, 86kg

AFL biography: Medium midfielder who reads the game very well and is very strong in the contest. Has good burst of speed and elite endurance and played a pivotal role in South Australia's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning team averaging 15.3 possessions (7.7 contested) and 6.5 tackles across all 6 matches. Has played senior football with Sturt.

Brenton Phillips, SANFL: "I like him. He's played a fair bit of league footy now, and as an inside midfielder is really strong in the contests with a penetrating kick."

What players do you have your eyes on at 30?

P.S-I haven't considered Cockatoo because I believe he'll be gone by pick 30.

Another one to consider at 30:

Connor Menadue (Western Jets)

Born 19.9.1996, 188cm, 69kg

AFL biography: Excellent athlete that uses his pace and running capacity to run and carry the footy and often breaks the lines. A quiet kid by nature that has the ability to play on a range of opponents regardless of size. Averaged 19.6 disposals per game in his 14 matches for the Western Jets. Consistency is his greatest strength.

Shane Sexton, Western Jets: "Connor's been really impressive, from start to finish this year. He was our best player in the first four or five games and we weren't too sure about him before then but he's been outstanding and he's our best speed and endurance athlete by far. He can run all day. He played some reasonably footy at the national championships bitu he finished off the year really well and he was easily our best player in the elimination final so he's played well under some pressure. He's that type who can run and carry and kick a goal off the half-backline, he's very capable overhead and he'll run a `5-plus beep test and test really well in the sprint. He's a good runner, a nice size and I think he'll be very capable of playing the modern game."

If we are after a small forward at 30:

Toby McLean (Oakleigh Chargers)

Born 31.1.1996, 179cm, 70kg

AFL biography: Small forward/midfielder with an exceptional natural leap and is crafty around goals. Agile and a prolific ball winner, he has averaged 21.9 disposal and kicked 29 goals in an outstanding first year in the TAC Cup. His 'X' factor is his overhead making for his size.

Mark Smart, Oakleigh Chargers: "Toby deserves a lot of credit for his commitment and perseverance. He wasn't on a list at the start of the year after he got cut from Dandenong so he came into our group where he didn't know anyone and kept chasing his dream. He can take some high-flying marks and his game awareness is a big strength, he knows when the ball's coming into his area and where his opponent is, so he's two steps ahead of the game all the time. His work in traffic and decision making is really good and he's really been able to handle everything that's been thrown at him in terms of playing as a medium forward and graduating into the midfield. He's had an outstanding year, he can do some really special things when it's needed and I wasn't here when Robbie Gray was around but he's the one a lot of people have compared him to."

Toms brother:

Ed Langdon (Sandringham Dragons)

Born 1.2.1996, 182cm, 72kg

AFL biography: Medium forward with excellent speed and goal sense. Outstanding against South Australia at AAMI Stadium kicking four goals before a finger injury curtailed his under-18 championships. Prior to that he averaged 11.3 disposals, 2.3 goals and four tackles in three matches A player that makes things happen when the ball is in his area. Brother of Tom at Collingwood.

Ryan O'Connor, Sandringham Dragons: "Ed's exciting. That's the word to describe him. He has that fantastic pace and endurance combination that a lot of clubs will be really interested in. He needs to keep working on his disposal efficiency - when he gets a bit tired some of his kicks don't quite hit the mark - and he needs to find a little bit of poise, he runs flat out at times and needs to settle down a bit before he kicks. He injured his finger after kicking four goals for Vic Metro against South Australia and we thought that would be it, but he got back in for the preliminary final and I thought that showed real resilience and a team-first type of attitude, he was rusty because he hasn't played for three months but his work rate and effort were there and he had an impact despite being out for so long. He needs to put on four or five kilograms to be able to play the type of footy he likes to play - he really likes to cack in - but in terms of athletic ability he's almost ready to go."

Elite disposer/decision maker, fast and above 184cm.

Brayden Maynard (Sandringham Dragons)

Born 20.9.1996, 186cm, 88kg

AFL biography: Left footer with powerful kick, excellent evasive skills and rarely beaten one on one. Averaged 15 disposals and five tackles in three under-18 championship games. His penetration and accuracy in his disposal makes him dangerous wherever he is on the ground. Son of Peter, who narrowly missed out on being father/son eligible to Adelaide.

Ryan O'Connor, Sandringham Dragons: "Brayden really enhanced his reputation during the finals. He was already very high credentialled but he finished off the season amazingly well in some big games, his kicking was elite and he's always been competitive so we think he's one who has really elevated himself. He doesn't have the best endurance so he'll be challenged to improve that - it's not bad but it's not elite - but his contested stuff is fantastic, he has really good game sense and because his kicking is right at the elite end it gives him a huge chance. He was able to influence games as a bottom ager last year, he's done more of that this year and when Angus Brayshaw got injured late in the year he put his had up to be captain and really rose to the occasion. He has some of those intangible characters, a real bit of spunk."

If a versatile tall is your go:

Tyler Keitel (East Perth)

Born 7.2.1996, 194cm, 86kg

AFL biography: Tall forward who provided a strong marking target up forward and has good speed to get space off his opponent. Averaged 6.2 marks and 15.8 disposals as Western Australia's most dangerous forward during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Can also transition into defence when called upon with great effect making him an extremely versatile footballer.

Raff Guadagnino, WAFL: "Tyler is probably the most professional player in our group. He leaves no stone unturned and he really plans everything out and make sure his training, his recovery, all the little things are done well. He's been seen as a tall forward but he could easily be manufactured into one of those players who plays well at both ends. He's a really nice kid who just wants to play well and has a great mindset."

A tall defender:

Oscar McDonald (North Ballarat Rebels)

Born 18.3.96, 196cm, 84kg

AFL biography: Tall defender with strength overhead. Can shut down dangerous marking forwards with close checking and his ability one on one. Has elite endurance for his size and has had excellent year with Rebels, averaging 14.3 disposals and 6.2 marks across 18 games. Won Coaches Award in the TAC Cup in 2014.

Phil Partington, North Ballarat Rebels: "Oscar won our best and fairest this year. He's a very intelligent young boy; last year as a 17-year-old he was combining his studies with footy and got a 99 ENTER. This year he's concentrated on footy a bit more, and he's doing some integration aide teaching at St Pat's College as well. He's one who can play forward or back, he's about 197cm and a strong man and he'll get even stronger. He's the brother of Tom at Melbourne, and Tom was a late developer as well. Oscar has a good endurance base, he runs about a 14.5 beep test and he's quite quick for his size. There's been questions marks on his speed, but 3.05 seconds is not too bad for someone his size. He's always asking questions, he wants to know who he's playing on and how to prepare to play against them. He's a bit more laidback than Tom, but they both get dirty on themselves when they make mistakes and Oscar's really determined, like Tom, to get the most out of himself."

P.S-If anyone of these slip to pick 48 (if we use it) they would prove excellent value.

swoop42 wrote:Brayden Maynard (Sandringham Dragons)

Born 20.9.1996, 186cm, 88kg

AFL biography: Left footer with powerful kick, excellent evasive skills and rarely beaten one on one. Averaged 15 disposals and five tackles in three under-18 championship games. His penetration and accuracy in his disposal makes him dangerous wherever he is on the ground. Son of Peter, who narrowly missed out on being father/son eligible to Adelaide.

Ryan O'Connor, Sandringham Dragons: "Brayden really enhanced his reputation during the finals. He was already very high credentialled but he finished off the season amazingly well in some big games, his kicking was elite and he's always been competitive so we think he's one who has really elevated himself. He doesn't have the best endurance so he'll be challenged to improve that - it's not bad but it's not elite - but his contested stuff is fantastic, he has really good game sense and because his kicking is right at the elite end it gives him a huge chance. He was able to influence games as a bottom ager last year, he's done more of that this year and when Angus Brayshaw got injured late in the year he put his had up to be captain and really rose to the occasion. He has some of those intangible characters, a real bit of spunk."

I think I have a new favourite! Ticks all the important boxes.

Nice work, swoop.

Just had a look at our list and even with the addition of Varcoe and Greenwood OMG we are very inexperienced. Only 15 player with 50+ games, 6 of those being in the 50-100 games including Macaffer who'll miss a chunk of 2015. Another 3 have played 40+.

At once makes you very excited and very nervous.

So much of how we perform in 2015 will fall on the Grundy, Witts, Elliott, Williams, Seedsman, Karnezis, Frost, Freeman, Kennedy, Broomhead, Thomas, Langdon, Marsh, Crisp, Oxley and Ramsay types to take their games to the next level.

Add Moore, pick 5 and 30 and it's a pretty exciting group.

Just as an exercise, slotted the squad into teams:

40+ Games
B: Toovey Brown Sinclair
HB: Young Keeffe Fasolo
C: Varcoe Greenwood Sidebottom
HF: Goldsack Cloke Swan
F: Blair Reid _____
R: White Pendlebury Adams
I/C: _____ _____ _____ _____
Unavail: Macaffer

<40 Games
B: Williams Frost Langdon
HB: Ramsay Marsh Oxley
C: Freeman Dwyer Seedsman
HF: Elliott Gault Broomhead
F: Grundy Karnezis Crisp
R: Witts Thomas Kennedy
I/C: Moore Armstrong Cox Pick5 Pick30 Pick48
Unavail: Scharenberg

Marsh, Gault and Moore may well develop into KPP but an extra developing versatile KPP at 5, 30, or 48 wouldn't go astray.