So far that’s 2 players; Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker isn’t it? Who else is there?
Dougie Cochrane (FWD/MID 196cm)***PORT
Cody Walker (MID 184cm)***CAR
Caylen Murray (MID/DEF 183cm)***BRIS
Archie Hill (DEF 182cm)***SUNS
Garrison Kenh (DEF 182cm)***WC
Matthew Owen (MID 179cm)***BRIS
Lucas Robinson (MID 189cm)***FRE
Ethan Matthews (DEF/MID 185cm)***GWS
Aiden McCartney (FWD 191cm)***SYD/NM
Tanner Armstrong (MID 177cm)***RICH
Cooper Hodge (DEF/MID)***BRIS/HAWK
Keenan Boi (FWD 177cm)***HAWKS
Khaled El Souki (FWD 175cm)***WB
Not saying all these guys will be top end draftees.
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Outside of Cochrane and Walker who are obvious, Armstrong and El Souki are probably the two who’ve started the season the strongest. Lucas Robinson had a really big game playing WAFL seniors but I still think his athletic limitations put a cap on where he gets a bid.
I still don’t believe any outside of the big two are a threat for top 10 at this stage.
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I really like Robinson but yes there are some doubts over him. I do think he could come into top 10 calculations though
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I think it is way too early to make that kind of assessment. We’ve no idea how much of who has been taken reflects draft strength, who was available, versus long-term drafting ability or preferences. Or what will happen after several seasons in Essendon’s undevelopment system.
- Am I pleased with the 2024 draftees? Yes. But I also think that is shaping up to be a monster of a draft, in which case we may not be much better than our competitors. And I give no credit for Kako or Nguyen since they were in effect freebies.
- The 2025 draftees are being talked about on Blitz like they’ve already made it. Do we forget how we talked about Cox, Perkins, Ridley, Parish at the end of 2021?
- I wasn’t thrilled with recruiting of McMahon, Smart, Prior or Fiorini.
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As far as I know, yes. However, since they’re expected to be the best 2 players in the draft, that might mean we’re missing out on the best available player(s) in the draft.
I’ve currently got 9 club-tied kids in my initial top 40. Cochrane and Walker top 2 and then Robinson on the cusp of the top ten (I know there are doubts but I really like what he can do). He is the type that can slide though.
Other than that, only McCartney as a top 20 selection, but there’s doubt there too given he won’t play this season.
So not an overly bad draft to have several top 20ish picks.
It is worth noting, if we finish last and the new rules come into effect (higher bid matching, compo picks for top 5 draft picks pushed back), we could possible end up with picks #1, #19 and #22 (with #1 moving to #3 and #19 + #22 potentially coming in 2-3 spots pending how Carlton, Port and maybe Freo match their NGAs).
So before we even move players on for picks, we could be looking at picks #3, #16 and #19
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It’s a great start and likely we will trade out one or two players so we could have 5 in the top 20
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Hopefully a first for Merrett and we would have 4 top 20 picks
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Maybe Ridley for another one?
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I was initially in the keep Merrett camp - I think you can get too young too quick and you do need senior role models. The caveat there is that he needed to have complete buy in and be willing to sacrifice to ensure young guys develop quicker.
I’m starting to feel the bottom out rebuild needs to be maximised while we can. A first and another pick to assist with bid matching in 2027 would probably get me over the line.
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Its super early so don’t take anything to the bank… but I’m not absolutely in love with the first round outside of the top 10ish. Hoping to see more putting their hands up through the academy/champs of course. There are guys with talent but they need to start hitting form.
An extra back end first round pick might not be a super valuable asset. Not that we have any choice really given Tassie is about to hoover up everything.
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You mean for 2027 @noobermensch ?
Of course. This is the last year for us to get talent in an uncompromised draft for three years. So while I may not love the back end of round 1 we really don’t have any choice but to hit it hard and hope for the best.
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We might only draft Bewick next year
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I have a similar feel. I’m comfortable with the top 7-8 and then feel it’s a bit meh. Although I kind of think that 18-25 might be an interesting spot as there’s nice attributes and positions there, they just don’t scream for attention when looking at the 10-30 range as a whole.
If that makes sense?
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Yeah that could be just a great get in and get out draft for us
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It will be interesting given our list needs and trends. I’ve been to a few Northern Knights games and rate HVH and liked what I saw from Butler last year. So if we ended up with a pick at the pointy end, we could really win someone from it.
I will have an eye on someone like Benji Van Rooyen, even Lewis Houndsome just with the trend last year being those pure rucks sliding. Houndsome though does rest forward.
Even those pure midfielders, unless you are a real transitional type or gut runner, I would expect ones to slide.
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At worst we could always grab some cheap trades if there is nothing of value outside the top 10
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I’ve been disappointed in Houndsome to be honest. Last year he was a big athletic lump who crashed around like a labrador puppy, and you could see the potential but hoping it would start to round out into an actual footballer this season… so far it hasnt.
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