#34 - Luamon Lual

Lol, he ain’t playing you loonies.

Lual is the weakest player in the VFL team

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Agree. Odd inclusion on emergency list. Brad doing Brad things I guess…

He may turn it around yet, he’ll likely get the second season that he’s contracted for but gee, we’re really going well when it comes to bidding on or selecting guys from other team’s academies aren’t we.

Kobe Mutch
Irving Mosquito
Luamon Lual

Even though he’s a bit one dimensional, the one who will probably play the most games, albeit not for us, is Voss (GWS academy) and he was a rookie pick.

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the dogs took Joel Freijah with their next pick at 45. I’d much prefer him on the list right now, he’d even have forced brad to pick him by now i suspect.

https://vfl.aflmstats.com/player/Joel_Freijah

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Yeah he’s come in and looked a very likely type. He’s a nice size too. I’m sure the Dogs are pretty content with how it all transpired.

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I believe the dogs were into freijah from a long way out. it’s possible if we took him instead of lual dogs would have taken roberts at 45 instead so…

Flight home won’t be fun.

I have seen a lot of him and he’s comfortably the worst player on our list.

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Dont think he’ll be offered a contract for next year.

He doesn’t need to be offered what he already has.

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Just read that up. My bad, didnt realise he was contracted.

I’m not writing him off just yet.

He was always going to be a long-term prospect. And, while you would have ideally liked to have seen more from him in his first year, I don’t think he has been as poor as some make out. He has some tools, he really just seems to lack confidence in himself. Big year for him next year.

He was no more a long term prospect than any draftee. He’s played footy all through juniors and was considered a standout prospect all the way though (not a late converter from another sport), last season he was a very good rebounding defender at Talent League level and showed some nice form when run on ball at times.

He’s not a 200+cm unco ruck or key tall still growing into his body.

Having said that, I don’t like the idea of cutting any kid after only one year on the list. First season in a professional environment can take a lot of adjustment. If he’s still not shown anything next year then we move on.

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I’ve seen a bit of him and I also think this. He’s got some speed but he never carries the ball, he’s got some skill but he always just looks to handball. I guess a small positive is that he played all 18 VFL games this year, which is a good sign.

I agree that he hasn’t shown heaps, but I really don’t like seeing young guys cut after one year. Hopefully he’s settled in Melbourne, can have a big pre-season and show some major improvements in 2025…

The Dogs just continue to nail picks, very frustrating.

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I always thought lual was a bit overrated as an underage player, but i think being a South Sudanese kid with a good head on his shoulders, it helped him get drafted that high. The reason being the success other South Sudanese boys have had once in the fully professional AFL environment, so the club invested in the high potential upside, which an awful lot of drafting is based upon these days (potential upside).

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Our drafting in and around this area of the draft, from pick 30-odd for the next 20 picks, has been absolutely rubbish in recent years:

2018 - Irving Mosquito - Pick 38 - 4 games
2019 - Ned Cahill - Pick 56 - 6 games
2020 - Josh Eyre - Pick 39 - 0 games
2020 - Cody Brand - Pick 53 - 0 games
2021 - Alastair Lord - Pick 46 - 1 game (not really a game as he was sub and never got on the ground)
2021 - Garrett McDonagh - Pick 50 - 0 games

All those guys, except for Moz, came and went within 2 seasons, with McDonagh only the one year on the list. Haven’t included the last 2 drafts but it’s fair to say the prospects of the Davey boys and Lyal aren’t looking great either. Roberts is the only one where you can say with any confidence that we’ve picked a good one in that draft range. Bryan (38 in 2019 draft) is one that may still be a worthwhile selection. But it’s been slim pickings…

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Yep exactly and I’ve always thought it’s our drafting philosophy that’s been the major issue for 20 years. The taking high upside picks in that area hasn’t worked, it was a stupid dodoro idea. You do what Geelong have always done and take a slider like Roberts at those picks.

Cahill, Lord, Ham, those picks have Adrian written all over them, guys that are way too small to ever make it at afl level.

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It helps when you get two of the best key forwards drafted in the last decade handed to you as an academy player and father son. Talk about being kissed on the dik!

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