Where to with Trade/Draft Strategy from Here?

[bornadog]

Do you think we were more willing to go into this draft with a bunch of middle range picks knowing it was going to be quite even? I think it's an unbelievably important draft for us. I think we will finish bottom 4 next year and get another high pick before heading back up the ladder. Critical that we find a few players in this draft if we want to be challenging in 4/5 years.

We must nail this draft considering we have cleaned out ten players with over 800 games experience. This will have a big effect on the team next year but as you say from 2016 we should be rising up the ladder very quickly. I don't know much about Foster, but obviously the recruiters feel he wasn't worth taking in FS and have taken the risk he may be available as a rookie.

[azabob]

Just on Foster - the recruiters must have felt Redpath has more upside than Foster hence why Redpath was upgraded and Foster wasn't.

[Mofra]

Knowing how our fans loved Peter Foster I'd imagine there will be a number of people upset if he goes to another club. It will be worse if he does well
There are plenty who don't rate him though.

I'd be annoyed if we passed on better players to take a kid based purely on his surname.

[Dry Rot]

It is believed the Western Bulldogs also showed an interest in securing Lucas, but the West Australian is seeking a return home.


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-20/lucas-set-for-eagles-lifeline

WTF?

[Twodogs]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-20/lucas-set-for-eagles-lifeline

WTF?

I would have thought we have enough players who butcher the ball.

[always right]

Yes I heard it. I think the thing they focused on is how the Bulldog fans will react if Foster lands at another club and does well. They also used the example of James Stewart at GWS given Collingwood passed on him.

I think they mentioned that there are 3 clubs that could take him in the National Draft.

Knowing how our fans loved Peter Foster I'd imagine there will be a number of people upset if he goes to another club. It will be worse if he does well

Spot on. They weren't so critical of us not taking him but commented that it would be disastrous for the club if a player available to them under the father son rule and rejected ends up being a success elsewhere. I think they're right which is not to say I think the club should have taken him.

[LostDoggy]

Considering we've given Cordy 6 years to date for zero return as a father/son, it would have been (past tense I know) nice to have given Foster at least a minimum of two to see how he develops.

Yes, smarter minds have followed his progress than me to date within the club, but to have the ability to list him - even as a FS rookie, and not have done this as yet is a little disheartening. He improved this year at TAC level, granted as a 19y.o and when others were with the Metro team, but I'll be immensely pissed off if he simply gets drafted by another team (God help the person who takes emails and phone calls at the club from supporters if he becomes a player). How can he not be worth a rookie spot (assuming, as is currently indicated, we're not worried about him)?

[boydogs]

Foster might be a good one for the Footscray list if undrafted. Showing signs of being a late developer without being ready yet

[The Bulldogs Bite]

How can he not be worth a rookie spot (assuming, as is currently indicated, we're not worried about him)?

Maybe we simply do not rate him?

Sentiment shouldn't count for anything. If we don't rate him, we shouldn't draft him. No point picking a player because of his last name and family ties to the club - you have to believe he has a chance at making the grade, and a better chance than other young kids too.

Personally I don't mind either way. If we rookie him, I'll wish all the best, but I don't see why he should be given preference over anyone else.

[LostDoggy]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-20/lucas-set-for-eagles-lifeline

wtf?

bullet dodged!!!!;)

[G-Mo77]

Maybe we simply do not rate him?

Sentiment shouldn't count for anything. If we don't rate him, we shouldn't draft him. No point picking a player because of his last name and family ties to the club - you have to believe he has a chance at making the grade, and a better chance than other young kids too.

Personally I don't mind either way. If we rookie him, I'll wish all the best, but I don't see why he should be given preference over anyone else.

I do agree with you. BUT if he does turn out alright with another team the fact that we had a free shot to take him as a late pick or rookie selection would be a real kick in the teeth.

[bulldogtragic]

Maybe we simply do not rate him?

Sentiment shouldn't count for anything. If we don't rate him, we shouldn't draft him. No point picking a player because of his last name and family ties to the club - you have to believe he has a chance at making the grade, and a better chance than other young kids too.

Personally I don't mind either way. If we rookie him, I'll wish all the best, but I don't see why he should be given preference over anyone else.

I liked what I saw this year. Personally I think we are hoping to land a steal by not showing any interest. The knock isn't talent, it was a season playing out of the goal square which isn't a spot in the AFL these days. He was bigger, stronger and older so the questions seem to be can he play on better, stronger, bigger opponents in a different role in which he excelled this year. Many will cite top goal kickers in the TAC that didn't come on. I thought he seemed unsure playing a more CHF, lead up role. Can he be taught it? Will he cope with opponents. Will his foot injury from last year come back? He has some talent and tricks and I would've taken the punt myself. But if we can't answer these questions, maybe we are hoping others can't and wont take the gamble. I'm certain we will rookie him, but I'm not certain he will be there for us to do that. It will burn if he makes it.

[LostDoggy]

Unless the club knows something about some sort of career killer injury!?

[mighty_west]

Draft strategy :

- Top 43 players written down IN ORDER of best players (3 players already selected : Moore, Heeney and Steele)
- cross players names off list as selected by all clubs and selecting the highest ranked on our list with each of our selections at the time

The infamous Howard selection may have been a blessing in disguise with not how to draft, especially with the high end draft selections, the old "we better take player x with selection 12 because another team will swoop with pick 21 is fraught with danger.

[always right]

Unless the club knows something about some sort of career killer injury!?

Please elaborate. Do you know something?

[Mofra]

The infamous Howard selection may have been a blessing in disguise with not how to draft, especially with the high end draft selections, the old "we better take player x with selection 12 because another team will swoop with pick 21 is fraught with danger.
Hasn't this myth been debunked numerous times now?
He was judged best available and next on our list, nothing more. We got it wrong.

[chef]

Hasn't this myth been debunked numerous times now?
He was judged best available and next on our list, nothing more. We got it wrong.

This. Seems to come up every year.

We didnt get spooked, he just didnt come on as expected. Drafting will never be an exact science.

[The Doctor]

This. Seems to come up every year.

We didnt get spooked, he just didnt come on as expected. Drafting will never be an exact science.

But you can minimise margin for error by not selecting suburban footballers above elite state level players who are proven against their peers.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

But you can minimise margin for error by not selecting suburban footballers above elite state level players who are proven against their peers.

it just looks so head up the arse recruiting as to be culpable and negligent.

[F'scary]

But you can minimise margin for error by not selecting suburban footballers above elite state level players who are proven against their peers.

Brutal.

[chef]

But you can minimise margin for error by not selecting suburban footballers above elite state level players who are proven against their peers.

Dunno mate, Dalrymple obviously saw something there and took the risk. They are not all going to be winners.

[chef]

Brutal.
Hindsight.

[The Doctor]

Hindsight.

nothing to do with hindsight. called it at the time and ever since. It's just logic. You pick elite players first.

Anyway, let's hope it doesn't happen again.

[GVGjr]

Hindsight.

Not really. I know the Doc raised that concern on that draft night. He's been a big believer that the majority of players selected should follow the elite pathway.

[chef]

nothing to do with hindsight. called it at the time and ever since. It's just logic. You pick elite players first.

Anyway, let's hope it doesn't happen again.

fair enough.

[F'scary]

Brutal.

But accurate

[Dry Rot]

Thoughts on what we did overall?

I'm stoked we got Daniel, dunno about the rest,

[Remi Moses]

Thing is with kids like Caleb Daniel is that he gets knocks on his height in his whole footy life, and in a lot of cases they're just more driven.