Surely I can do better? Or are you using the royal “you” here. I’ve never suggested that Travaglia is my preferred prospect for our pick, but I think you’re being massively harsh if you’re suggesting that an elite intercepting and lockdown defender with the ability to run and rebound the footy, and an intense competitor, is somehow beneath us, or not one of our most pressing needs.
Key forward - I don’t personally think any key forward in this draft pool is worthy of a top 10 pick.
Lalor - likely gone before our pick at a guess.
Someone supremely skilled - we could draft one of the many elite midfielders in this draft pool, one of which will likely slide to us… but the consensus here is that we don’t need another midfielder, which I kind of agree with although I would prioritise slightly different things.
Obviously first and foremost whoever we pick needs to be able to play football… but I said a while back that I would prioritize fixing our meek and uncompetitive culture. I wouldn’t be too fussed with positions at our first pick as I suspect we’re going to turn over a lot of the list over the next few years and we should be drafting for 3-4 years from now. I wan’t someone that’s going to be competitive and driven, who demands high standards from himself and his teammates. I wan’t someone that lifts and inspires those around him on field.
A lot of will depend on interviews and info from junior coaches etc. I really like what I’ve seen from Harvey Langford in this regard, the way that he’s driven and led his Stingrays and Vic Country teams. But its a view from a distance so I don’t know enough to say for sure that he’s the guy.
Take Jobe and Kako.
If we dont want a key forward then take the best midfielder available.
I am big time against using a top 10 pick on a rebounding half back who has played in every other position too.
He’s tough as nails, loves a scrap. His kicking is a little variable… but kind of in a good way if that makes sense. At his best his kicking is elite, he nails low penetrating darts lace out, but he can get a little lazy with his technique sometimes and lose the form. I reckon its one of those things that will correct itself with time and repetition.
As you mentioned, he’s excellent overhead. He’s in the Sam Lalor mould of a kid that plays forward and midfield, I’m sure he’ll start off as a forward at AFL level.
I think it’s ok to be slow if he’s surrounded by players with decent speed. It’s like it’s ok to be small as a mid, if you aren’t surrounded by other small mids. The balance has always been our issue, we are always too much of the one thing.
What about Bo Allan, he is tough as nails, can slot in at half back initially given recent departures of Heppell and Kelly. Is a similar size and also has midfielder atttributes. Tough as nails. Plus could be a pawn in 2025 trade for Harley Reid.
191cm 84kg AFL Captain in waiting. Team player, has speed.
Plus played at Peel right under our list managers nose.
Fits well for slotting into 2025 AFL spot.
has size and speed that we lack and may translate to AFL
Shows a bit of ticker and repeat efforts
willing to do the unrewarded stuff - smothers, hit up team mate rather than blaze away for goal.
Sure, I like him well enough - although I wouldn’t like to be making drafting decisions based on using them as a trade pawn, I don’t think that should factor into the decision.
Bo brings a physicality that maybe only Lalor can match in this pool. He’s versatile, can play tall and small. Strong in the air.
A couple of concerns for me though. He’s played quite a lot of senior WAFL and hasn’t been a standout, and this is a year where lots of the prospects have played senior state league games and been excellent. I’m not as sure about him transitioning into the midfield as others are… he was effective in there at the champs but he was also very raw and basic. Would charge forward in straight lines, sometimes taking the footy but often not. He’s not clean, slick and skillful like many of the other prospects, he’s just a raw and powerful type that you hope can develop.
Thinking about this more, I also think the other analogy for the Tigers would be us in 2016. If the players stayed, as the saga players did for us, I think Richmond would also have a period of mediocrity.
I think it’s hard to argue if the saga players in 2016 had all asked to leave we wouldn’t be in a better position now. Certainly no worse.
So best case then Lalor drops to us. that has happened in some phantom drafts.
187cm inside bull, draws comparisons to Dustin Martin, also good up forward.
Allan sounds more like Ginbey then I guess big and strong but lacks some polish. Maybe it develops, maybe not as a mid. Still would be handy at half back, but is he worth pick 8-10.
Just on this, I wouldn’t particularly prioritise this. I don’t think one kid changes anything. Many of our draftees were rated as strong competitors; it hasn’t shifted the dial.
Now, if we cut deep and we’re bringing in 6-10 kids across the draft, I would absolutely be concerned about it.
I like Xavier Lindsay if we want to go for a skillful back flank/winger, he’s versatile, tough, excellent at winning his own footy and one of the best users of the ball in the pool.
I like Taj Hotton if we wanted to pair Kako with another small forward. He’s dynamic, skilled and competitive.
I like Langford if he’s still on the board and he fits the psychological profile that I was talking about.
