Welcome to Essendon - there might be more last list spots…

[VelvetSledge]

Further to this Adam Saad originally was a rookie draft selection who initially struggled with VFL then hit his straps and had a similar swag of accolades to Baker (albeit in the VFL not NEAFL).

Snelling was a really astute pick-up. We will benefit more from guys like Baker and Waterman who’s bodies are right for the level and who have nothing to lose and have focused for years post draft in getting this chance to an undrafted Koby Mutch type who will take 3-4 years to even have the body to compete.

[frosty]

Tbh I have no idea how I’d play it with these 3 spots.

In general I agree that you need to be adding upside guys at the back end of the draft, but the club (and most clubs) have gone the other direction in recent years, filling out the list with role players. I suspect this is a reaction to list sizes and the need to have 30 guys able to contribute in any given week due to injuries etc. (You’ll always have 6-8 players in their first 2 years, plus another couple who are longer term project talks). In a year with smaller lists again, I suspect there’s a bit of hesitancy to invest in a massive project.

I’d still be looking at at least one extreme upside player, with the tools to be A+ grade, but who for some reason missed the pathways, or didn’t get the opportunities.

Given our position in terms of development you could then make an argument that we should be keeping 2 slots for the msd, and just taking the best who would otherwise go 2021 ND. These are likely “pathways” guys who just needed more development and opportunity.

I suspect we go 1 X mature depth and leave 2 spots for msd. But who knows.

Waterman and Baker may be seen as having high upside.

Baker obviously has the size and perhaps the athletic profile, and although he was in the system to a degree, he was injured as an U18. As a mature guy while studying he’s gone from strength to strength, so perhaps he has further levels.

Waterman obviously has bloodlines on his size, and clearly was in the system for years. I’d be interested to know how athletic profile. Almost 3 goals a game as a smallish forward is good, but how did he get those goals? Is he explosive and powerful and quick, or is he just a good reader who knows when to get out the back. If he’s grown into a powerful athlete then perhaps there is upside given how much development he missed.

[Houli_Dooli]

@Henry_s_Angry_Pills

Even for you, this is a strange post.

In what way were either Smith or Ryan moonshots? They were first and second round picks, respectively, based on stellar season/s at state level (multiple for Ryan) and then testing. In no way, shape or form could they have been considered the “last spot on the list”. They were highly sought after, and about as known quantities as you can get, outside the AFL.

Our last spot on the list last season was Henry Crawford - a super duper tall guy, late convert to the sport, latecomer to elite pathways, on nobody’s radar, and seemingly picked for doing a couple of freaky deaky things in SANFL reserves. The prototypical risk/reward pick!!!

Snelling was our last spot in 2019 . Was he a safe pick, yes. Was he a good pick, also yes. No complaints here. To my mind, only looking for upside picks with the last spot is an artificial constraint, not going to help you.

I guess the point being was invite players with similar skills - athletic traits that are running around lower level comps, more so that these guys were mature age recruits, yes they were drafted high, but they were playing in other competitions prior to being drafted.

[Ants]

@frosty

Yeah, I understood that, was just adding my perspective on the 2 individuals.

If we got them I’d be hoping for Isaac Smith and Liam Ryan

(Re Snelling, I don’t think we can complain about that level. With the 3 spots we had available if we got 1x very good, 1 X Snelling level and 1 X bust we’d have probably done OK. But to get that you’re aiming for 3 X superstar!)

Snelling is a decent player. He’s just got a roof. Now isn’t the time to take a player with a roof.

@Houli_Dooli

Waterman just seems too much like what we have in medium forwards
Stringer
Laverde
Perkins

…

At 183 cm, is he really a medium forward? Seems more a small. But never seem him play.

[Houli_Dooli]

that was his height when drafted…he is now around 188-191cm

[Ants]

The Fox Sports article @Speedy_Gonzales posted is from 2020, and has him at 182cm. Are you sure he’s closer to 190cm tall? Growing from 182 to 190 odd would be a lot of growth for someone post draft.

[Saucy]

Are you thinking of his brother Jake Waterman, who plays for West Coast?

[Houli_Dooli]

ohh yeh jake whoops.

[Humble_NSW_Fan]

Id like to see an excitment machine take one of the spots.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

As something we should do, like WCE and Hawks did with Ryan and Smith, or something we shouldn’t do?

I genuinely can’t work out what you’re criticising.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

@dbeas

So, why should we invite kids if they are not talented enough to be drafted?

*were not.

As opposed to are not.

Pretty much zero U18 comp in Victoria. Easy to imagine a good handful of guys coulda/shoulda/woulda put forward a case to be drafted, if they’d had an U18s season.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

@frosty

Given our position in terms of development you could then make an argument that we should be keeping 2 slots for the msd, and just taking the best who would otherwise go 2021 ND.

That’s what I’d be leaning towards.

But bottom line, the main thing is to have a good look at as many guys as we can. Whatever shape, size, age and footy background.

If any of them knock our socks off, sign away. If they don’t, move on - no point signing a dud for the sake of it.

[benfti]

Both clubs got lambasted for using National draft selections on mature age state leaguers.

That was the moon shot they took

[benfti]

I’m saying that we are looking at using these spots on depth solid players who might end up like a Snelling or could bottom out like Mitch Hibberd where we should be looking at state leaguers who possess an elite AFL skill that we can develop their other areas.

Both these guys we are looking at are fine, but Smith had elite speed and Ryan had Elite transferable X factor. If we are looking at grabbing a couple of solid citizens, why would we not just give a spot to Aaron Heppell? At least he can play small back.

[Ants]

@benfti

Both clubs got lambasted for using National draft selections on mature age state leaguers.

That was the moon shot they took

Um, what? Ryan, I Smith, Kelly, all of those guys were rated around the picks they went. Who was doing the lambasting?

[Benny40]

I’d be stoked if Aaron got a gig.

But anyway, the flip side here is we can make a call on Baker and Waterman after 1 year. There’s no waiting around to see what they physically develop into. A moon shot player realistically needs 2-3 years on the list before you can make that call.

I wouldn’t be adverse to a Waterman type, Lockyer type, mid season draft 19 year old.

[dbeas]

Yes, that’s what I meant - just another English mistake of mine.

[Aceman]

Couple of indigenous lads signed in the SANFL today, know much about them?

Young Garawa man, Mishai Wollogorang is heading to Oval Avenue
Mishai is a proud young Garawa man from Robinson River, NT, a remote Indigenous community consisting of 285 residents and a working cattle station.

Mishai was identified during the recent WWTFC Community visit to Yirara College in Alice Springs where he had recently been boarding at the college and undertaking year thirteen and a carpentry traineeship.

David Couzner, WWTFC Football Director said “After meeting with Mishai and his senior house parent at Yirra College, Jed De Laine, it was evident to Luke & Jade that Mishai was extremely committed to playing football at the highest standard, but more importantly, he is committed to gaining an apprenticeship and becoming a positive role model for the youth within Robinson River. As a community club, we are in a great position to be able to facilitate the relocation to Adelaide and the employment opportunity for Mishai, to assist him in achieving his goals. He has a hard journey ahead of him; however, he has a strong WWTFC support base structure around him, that will assist with the transition”.

After completing a week of work experience with WWTFC club major sponsor Maughan Thiem, the Club is extremely pleased to advise, Mishai will commence an automotive apprenticeship with Maughan Thiem next week. Maughan Thiem CEO, Daniel Thomas said, “The Maughan Thiem Group has always enjoyed a close partnership and relationship with the WWTFC. When presented with Mishai and the opportunity to provide a week’s work experience we jumped at the opportunity. Mishai is a fantastic young man who is driven to learn and succeed. We are looking forward to assisting Mishai with his employment journey and welcoming him into the Maughan Thiem family”.

West Adelaide welcomes Ronald Fejo Jr to West Adelaide from the Wanderers.

The speedy wingman uses his pace and skills to do damage through the middle and up forward and took out the Round 4 NTFL Rising Star nomination in 2020.

Ronald’s previous coach Shannon Motlop said, “Ronald’s finding his feet as a league footballer and that includes the confidence and self belief you need at the top level,”

“He’s in his second season of Premier League football and with that has come the ability to run and carry the footy with his leg speed and use it to his side’s advantage.”

West Adelaide Football Manager Wayne Siekman said, “the 19 year old has an elite kick, amazing agility, good speed and has good endurance. He is a great athlete and an exciting talent for 2021. He is keen to improve and see how far he can go with his footy.”

Welcome to the club Ronald.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

Cool story Hansel.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

Not having a go at your language.

Just pointing out what was true in October might not be true now.
could change drastically once clubs have some of these kids under closer observation.