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AFL Insider - June 2008

AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 10

Fremantle

Batman - Matthew Pavlich

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 100%


Robin - Chris Tarrant

Other Robin contenders: Jeff Farmer, Ryan Murphy, Christopher Mayne


The Dockers didn't want Pavlich to have everything on his shoulders so they went out and acquired Tarrant, and Pavlich still has everything on his shoulders.

Maybe not Batman, Pavlich is more like Superman but with a lot of kryptonite around him. Pavlich is their best forward, defender and midfielder, but he can't be everywhere at once. Aaron The Giant, Racing Rhys Palmer, Leaping Luke McPharlin, they provide some help in those spots but few other Dockers are close to Pavlich in skill and importance.


Pavlich did at one time have a useful sidekick when Longmuir was around, but injuries ended his career. The next draft might provide some help for Pavlich, but maybe there is a young player already on the list who will develop into Pavlich's future sidekick. It probably isn't Kepler Bradley, Murphy doesn't look like he will stay around much longer, so maybe Christopher Mayne is the one. Mayne is an accurate kick for goal, and just like Pavlich he has versatility to also go into the midfield when it is needed.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 11
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June 30th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


How's My Trade Value: Scott Lucas

Player: Scott Lucas


Why their team should trade them:

They are not going to win again with him in the team, at least it doesn't seem likely. The Bombers can send him off for another shot at the cup, Lucas might get paid more at a contending team as well, and the Bombers can add some players that could be at the club for the next decade or more.


Which team would be a good fit:

Geelong does make some sense, as Lucas was from the Western Districts, and adding him could guarantee another premiership. For the cost of a draft pick and a young player the Cats could add the big boot of Lucas, although it might mean some manoeuvring with contracts to fit him under the salary cap.



Similar trade in the past:

Adelaide added Robran, Carlton acquired Spalding, Sydney got Ball, Geelong previously added Ottens, all big bodies who helped their new clubs to premierships.


Possible trade scenarios:

To Essendon: Cats' first round pick and Nathan Djerrkura
To Geelong: Scott Lucas


To Essendon: Bulldogs' first round pick and Josh Hill
To Western Bulldogs: Scott Lucas


To Essendon: Swans' first round pick and Paul Bevan
To Sydney: Scott Lucas
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June 30th 2008 @ 02:40

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


How's My Trade Value: Mitch Brown

Player: Mitch Brown


Why their team should trade them:

The Eagles may not have a spot for him when he recovers from his injury. With Kennedy, Mackenzie and Notte they have three local products who could be playing key position spots for West Coast for years to come, and they still have Glass, Hunter and Lynch.


Which team would be a good fit:

Sending Mitch Brown to Collingwood might work, that is where Nathan Brown is.


Similar trade in the past:

Anthony Rocca was a young key position player who was traded back to his home state. That trade also reunited him with his brother, big Saverio Rocca. The Browns are more versatile than the Roccas and there would be room for both Nathan and Mitch at Collingwood, both of them can play at either end of the field.


Possible trade scenarios:

To West Coast: Magpies' first round pick
To Collingwood: Mitch Brown


To West Coast: Alex Rance
To Richmond: Mitch Brown


To West Coast: Paul Bower
To Carlton: Mitch Brown
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June 29th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 11

St Kilda

Batman - Nick Riewoldt

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 75%


Robin - Justin Koschitzke

Other Robin contenders: Fraser Gehrig, Stephen Milne


On paper, the Saints have a great forward line, but sometimes it doesn't function properly. Even when all their players are healthy, they put up low scores despite having Riewoldt, Koschitzke, Gehrig, Milne and some help from midfielders kicking goals too.

Some players are marking machines, others are running machines, Nick Riewoldt does both. The Saints do need to figure out where he plays, and who his sidekick really is.

Gehrig was someone who could put goals on the board but he has already retired once and isn't far away from doing it again. Koschitzke for his entire career has been considered the number 2 to Riewoldt, it started in 2000 when Riewoldt was the top pick and Koschitzke went right after at pick 2. Injuries have stopped Koschitzke being a dominant player, but he may be the answer at full forward for the Saints.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 12
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June 27th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 12

Collingwood

Batman - Anthony Rocca

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 33%


Robin - Travis Cloke

Other Robin contenders: Dale Thomas, Paul Medhurst, Leon Davis, Sean Rusling


Rocca is getting close to the end of his career, and all of the small forwards that Collingwood use also spend a lot of time in the midfield, so the Magpies are a team that is hard to define. Maybe Cloke is now the top forward, and Medhurst is producing the goals although he isn't someone that a forward line is built around.

Collingwood did enter 2008 with the idea of a terrific trio, not just a dynamic duo. Rocca, Cloke and Sean Rusling would have provided the tall marking options up forward. As has happened before, Rusling went down with an injury. But maybe in 2009 the Magpies have Cloke and Rusling as their two big forwards, Rocca might be there or he might be somewhere else, maybe a punting spot in the NFL.

It might be surprising to many, especially those in Fremantle, but Paul Medhurst is playing at a superhero level. Sidekick in size, but he is doing the job of the bigger forwards as he keeps kicking plenty of goals.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 13
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June 26th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


How's My Trade Value: Kayne Pettifer

Player: Kayne Pettifer


Why their team should trade them:

The Tigers are not playing him, so it is time for Pettifer and the Tigers to start afresh. Pettifer still has the ability to kick goals and there should be a team out there that can use him as a secondary option up forward.


Which team would be a good fit:

Sydney can struggle to kick goals, if Hall and O'Loughlin are not firing, and they may have lost faith in Nick Davis so Pettifer could play in his role.


Similar trade in the past:

While it was just part of a package for Tarrant, the inclusion of Paul Medhurst in the trade to the Magpies is an example of a small forward wearing out a welcome at one club and being reinvented at another.

The Swans when they previously acquired Davis also had similar success.

Schneider is another small forward who has been traded in recent years, he and Dempster were worth a second round pick in the trade between Sydney and St Kilda.


Possible trade scenarios:

To Richmond: Tim Schmidt
To Sydney: Kayne Pettifer


To Richmond: Stephen Milne
To St Kilda: Kayne Pettifer


To Richmond: Jason Roe
To Brisbane: Kayne Pettifer
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June 26th 2008 @ 02:40

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 13

Adelaide

Batman - Brett Burton

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 75%


Robin - Kurt Tippett

Other Robin contenders: Simon Goodwin, Jason Porplyzia, Nick Gill, Trent Henstchel, Luke Jericho


Batman is supposed to be the big guy, and Robin the little sidekick, but at the moment the Crows have it the other way around. It still works, most of the time, which is the important thing.

Burton is not out of place as a high-leaping full forward in the Crows' team, Adelaide previously had Modra and even Lindner could jump a bit too. Burton is also a versatile forward, able to play up the ground, and the Crows also had Darren Jarman and Mark Ricciuto who played in a similar role in the past.

Tippett has been given a big role this season due to the delisting of Perrie, Welsh signing with the Bulldogs and injuries to Gill and Hentschel.

The Jerichoholics in Adelaide also have their superhero, Luke Jericho. He can appear out of nowhere, and kick 3 or 4 goals in a quarter.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 14
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June 25th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


A Different Type Of Fantasy Football Game

There are plenty of NFL games to try, but here is a CFL fantasy game.

CFFL

If you want to pick some players you have never heard of, give it a try, and you also get to design a mascot "freak" for your fantasy team.
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June 25th 2008 @ 02:40

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


How's My Trade Value: Justin Koschitzke

Many players will have their trade values looked at in the coming weeks, maybe none of them actually go anywhere in trade week and maybe a few trade predictions actually happen after the season.


Player: Justin Koschitzke


Why their team should trade them:

They are not winning with both Riewoldt and Koschitzke, and they need to try something new. To get something of value, draft picks or players, the Saints need to give up something that has value and Koschitzke has that.


Which team would be a good fit:

Melbourne need to build a new forward line around a big key forward, Koschitzke would be perfect. He would take the role that Neitz had.


Similar trade in the past:

The Saints know all about trading a big forward, and just as Lockett and Hall brought in some useful draft picks, that is what the Saints could get in return for Koschitzke.

Another similar move from the past could be the Ottens' deal. The Tigers weren't making any progress up the ladder with Ottens so they traded him for draft picks.


Possible trade scenarios:

To St Kilda: Demons' second round pick, Clint Bartram and Lynden Dunn
To Melbourne: Justin Koschitzke


To St Kilda: Swans' first round pick, Ed Barlow and Tim Schmidt
To Sydney: Justin Koschitzke and Saints' third round pick
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June 24th 2008 @ 09:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


Player Of The Week

He would be in contention every week for being the top player, and once again Gary Ablett was among the best players for the round.

The Eagles knew he was the one to stop, and they did try a few things, but Ablett was just too good. Of his 37 possessions for the match, nearly half of them were contested. Ablett was also among the players with the most tackles for the game, he had 6. So his underrated strength was on display.

Ablett also kicked a couple of goals, he set up a few more for his teammates. The Eagles provided Ablett with an unexpected goal, as an astray kick went right to him in front of goal. Someone that didn't assist Ablett was the umpire, this was a rare game when he didn't receive a free kick, although that may have been because the Eagles couldn't get near enough to Ablett to give any free kicks away.

The final score was 182 to 47, so it wasn't all Ablett. But he was the main player behind the Cats' dominance.


Gary Ablett's profile at the Geelong site


Round 12, Player Of The Week
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June 24th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 14

North Melbourne

Batman - David Hale

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 33%


Robin - Shannon Grant

Other Robin contenders: Drew Petrie, Nathan Thompson, Corey Jones, Matthew Campbell


Sometimes it can be helpful when a team doesn't have a main focal point up forward, as opposition teams don't know who they need to contain, but at the Kangaroos it also means that they don't know who will consistently kick goals for them. Hale and Petrie provide the biggest targets but are also needed in other positions. Nathan Thompson is injury-prone, Shannon Grant is old and Corey Jones is struggling to replicate his 2007 form. Any of those players could be Batman one week, and The Invisible Man the next.

Against Geelong, Hale showed how he could dominate up forward. Last year in a game against the Bulldogs, Petrie was unstoppable as a key forward. With McIntosh out at the moment, those two also share the ruck duties as well as spending some time up forward. Maybe they will bring in Goldstein, as a backup ruckman, and they could put Hale back into the forward line in a full-time role which was their original plan this season.

Nathan Thompson was acquired to be their main forward, injuries as well as up and down form have curtailed that idea. If he was going to be Batman it might have meant that Aaron Edwards was his sidekick, but as Edwards has also been hurt it means that those two have rarely been in the same side.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 15
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June 23rd 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


How's My Trade Value

Leave a comment below for the name of a player, or players, that you think may or should be traded, or wish could be traded to your club.

In the coming days and weeks, plenty of possible player trades will be suggested. What draft pick or player someone could be worth, the teams that would suit the player, what the value was for similar players when they were traded in the past.

The AFL have changed a few rules to make trading easier for clubs, so this offseason could mean more big names are traded and all the teams will be active in making moves.
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June 20th 2008 @ 00:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 15

West Coast

Batman - Quinten Lynch

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 40%


Robin - Josh Kennedy

Other Robin contenders: Ben McKinley, Ashley Hansen, Mark LeCras


Their best ever Batman sits up in the coaches box, Sumich. The Eagles of today rely on Lynch and his magic glove, a bunch of young forward prospects and sometimes the Kung Fu Wirrpanda. Two superheroes from their recent AFL Grand Final years were Wirrpanda and Adam Hunter. A couple of years ago it seemed that whenever the Eagles got behind by a few goals they would send Wirrpanda and Hunter from the back line to the forward line and a comeback would always happen.

The Big Q isn't kicking a lot of goals at the moment. Some of that may be lack of supply, other times the reason is that he is also the backup ruckman, while another problem he has been having is where he gets the ball. Lynch is getting the football 60m out from goal a bit too much, and although he does possess range on his kick he needs to stay closer to the 50m line.

The Eagles turned Judd into Chris Masten and Mr Kennedy. Kennedy has shown that he can play Hansen's role at centre half forward, although that does give the Eagles the problem of what to now do with Hansen.

Lynch and Kennedy, or McKinley and Hansen, can be serviceable tall forwards but if the Eagles are to start winning again they needed to also get goals from the midfield like they used to.


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 16
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June 19th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


AFL Batman & Robin Rankings: 16

Ranking the key forward duos of the AFL. Starting at the 16th best and eventually revealing who is the most dangerous of the dynamic duos. Teams won when they had Dunstall and Brereton, McKernan and Carey, Lynch and Brown, Kernahan and Spalding, Lloyd and Lucas, so it is important to have a couple of star key forwards.


Melbourne

Batman - Brad Miller

By percentage, really the Batman of their club: 25%


Robin - Matthew Bate

Other Robin contenders: Austin Wonaeamirri, Aaron Davey


Neitz and Robertson wasn't a bad pairing, but the Demons have to look elsewhere for goals now. Brad Miller and Matthew Bate may not be too dynamic but they are the duo that Melbourne have at the moment to kick to up forward.

Austin Wonaeamirri and Aaron Davey lend a hand up forward with their pace, and the Demons do get goals from the midfield with Bruce and Green, but if Melbourne are going to climb back up the ladder they will need two big forwards. Right now that is Miller and Bate, and while they do bring in marks they are unlikely to kick winning scores.



The AFL's Batmobile.
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June 18th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


Player Of The Week

A few players kicked lots of goals last round, but one of them kicked 5 goals and 0 behinds, and also spent plenty of time taking game-saving marks at full back. Matthew Richardson's big season continued as Richmond and Melbourne played a very exciting game.

18 marks and 21 possessions were big numbers, but it was his accuracy in front of goal that was probably more exciting. 5 scoring shots and 5 goals, he was at his best.

Richmond and Melbourne under the roof was not expected to be so action-packed, but it was. Deledio's running, Bruce's skill, long kicking from Wheatley and Newman, an appearance from JON and an umpire going down, the game had it all but it was Richardson who was the difference between the sides.

The biggest highlight of the game also involved Richardson, he looked up and saw Aaron Davey standing on his shoulder taking a mark. Richardson may have been a bit perturbed with that, but for the rest of the game it was Richardson who was playing at a higher level than all the other players.


Matthew Richardson's profile at the Richmond site


Round 11, Player Of The Week
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June 17th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Western Bulldogs

3 Ryan Griffen

6 Tom Williams

22 Jesse Wells

38 Damian McCormack

54 Stephen Tiller


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We got a good blend. We thought we'd take the best players available and the fact that we've got a good cross-section out of that - two talls and two midfielders - is pleasing. We covered all bases. We didn't think young McCormack would be there at 38, so that was pleasing." – Rodney Eade, Bulldogs coach

The Bulldogs had plenty of drafts when they ended up with nothing despite picking high in the draft, while they may have been one of the two teams to bypass Lance Franklin they didn't do too badly in the 2004 draft.

Griffen is a big, strong midfielder and the Bulldogs needed to add strength in the middle. Griffen can also run and kick goals, so when he and Cooney are performing at their best they are difficult for other teams to match up on.

Williams was a hyped prospect that draft year, the player that was all about potential due to their athleticism but had played very few actual games. Initially he was expected to become another, but bigger, Koutoufides in the middle but that progression was halted by numerous injuries. He has been reinvented as a key defender and he gives the Bulldogs some things they need in the back line.

Teams are supposed to find success in the top 10, and the real scouting is needed when the later picks are used. The Bulldogs didn't really find a lot with their final three picks. Tiller is still around, drafted as a forward, he has been used in a few different spots when injuries present him with an opportunity.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - West Coast
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June 16th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - West Coast

29 Matthew Rosa

37 Mark LeCras

44 Mitch Morton

57 Bradley Smith


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "(The playing list) is very, very young, and John (Worsfold) saw the need for a more mature player and another tall with the number of midfielders that we have got. We were pretty happy. The guys we got we had rated quite highly so that is always nice. The proof will be in the pudding in a couple of years." - Trevor Woodhouse, West Coast recruiting manager

Another very good draft from the Eagles. They traded for Tyson Stenglein and that was why their picks started at 29. Rosa and LeCras are both good quality players for West Coast and bargain draft selections. Mitch Morton was a father/son selection, he is now a Richmond Tiger. Smith was a good pick later in the draft, as the Eagles always needed to find an extra tall forward for more goals it made sense to see if he could help them.

Rosa at pick 29, he was worth a higher pick than that. He is certainly better than many of the players picked ahead of him. Rosa is also suited to the Subiaco ground, it gives him the space to use his pace.

The Eagles have been able to find goals from players that are not key forwards, like Brett Heady and Phil Matera, so it isn't a surprise that they identified LeCras' talent in front of goal.

West Coast rarely make mistakes in the drafts, and in 2004 they were able to acquire three players, drafting two and trading for Stenglein, that are presently solid contributors as well as a player they would have liked to have kept, Morton, but were able to trade for a draft pick.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Sydney
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June 13th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Sydney

31 Jarred Moore

47 David Spriggs

61 Heath James


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "(The midfield) was something we needed to address. Over the last two or three years we've lost (Paul) Kelly and Darryn Cresswell and some of the guys, Paul Williams and Stuey Maxfield, are getting towards the end of their careers. I think it's an area you can never have too many of, to be honest. It's certainly an area we need to keep improving at, so we went into this draft more looking at mids and a possible key back, so we got the two mids and gave Jamesy another chance." - Paul Roos, Sydney coach

They traded their early pick for a ruckman that was already proven, Darren Jolly, and that helped them get to and win a Grand Final.

Jarred Moore has taken a while but is now a success for the Swans. He is just another one of the Swans that is small but strong, and Roos can rotate Moore through the midfield and also give him minutes up forward where he has been kicking a few goals.

James was someone they persisted with and redrafted him in this draft. They were hoping he would give them help in a key position but that didn't happen. Spriggs was one of those "good ideas at the time", he did show some promise while with Geelong so it wasn't a bad move to give him a chance.

The Swans could have used their first rounder on a young ruckman, but even if he did become an AFL player it could have taken four years. With Jolly, they got someone who was ready to contribute right away, and the Swans were correct when they thought he would rapidly improve when he got the chance to play more, instead of being a backup like he was at Melbourne behind superstar Jeff White.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - St Kilda
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June 12th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - St Kilda

17 Andrew McQualter

33 Cain Ackland

49 Mark McGough

63 James Gwilt

72 Pass

77 Pass


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We're very comfortable with McQualter. If you bracket McGough with him, we've got a couple of midfielders who are getting a bit older, so they address a situation that might happen in a year or two. Ackland is not just a ruckman, he's quite athletic and can go forward and take a mark. There's a bit of balance (in those picks), and Gwilt you'd call a calculated punt." - John Beveridge, Saints recruiting manager

While the Saints may be under some pressure at the moment, it was things like this draft in the past that made their present situation precarious. Gwilt at pick 63 is a success, but they don't have much else to be happy about.

It was during these years that the Saints neglected their ruck spot. Ackland was serviceable but undersized, and the Saints could have gone with a bigger prospect like Simon Taylor or Brad Moran. Big ruckmen like Jolly and Ottens were also available for draft picks, if the Saints had traded their picks it might have gotten them a Grand Final appearance.

McGough did have big-game ability, but the Saints never got to any big games while he was around. McQualter has been delisted, redrafted as a rookie and now elevated but that is not what teams want from a top 20 pick.

It would be interesting to know if they drafted the above midfielders to replace Harvey, they probably did, to "address a situation that might happen in a year or two". Over the years the Saints have brought in many players that were expected to be important contributors after Harvey but so far Harvey has outlasted most of them.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Richmond
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June 11th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


Player Of The Week

In the first play of the game, an Eagle went right at Goodes and that seemed to fire him up for the rest of the game, although maybe he was a bit too fired up at times. It was Goodes' effort and high marks that stopped the Eagles getting an even bigger lead than they did in the first quarter, and Goodes continued to play well for the rest of the match as the Swans eventually reeled in the Eagles.

Goodes took 8 marks, 6 of them were contested marks. 11 kicks, 10 handballs, and 4 tackles were some of his other important stats. Two thirds of his possessions were contested possessions.

Goodes may have given away 3 free kicks, and been reported, but that just showed the level of intensity he had in this game.


Adam Goodes' profile at the Sydney site


Round 10, Player Of The Week
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June 10th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Richmond

1 Brett Deledio

4 Richard Tambling

12 Danny Meyer

16 Adam Pattison

20 Dean Polo

36 Luke McGuane

52 Dean Limbach

65 Mark Graham

72 Pass

From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We went in aiming to get a variety of players - some midfielders, some talls and a couple of utilities - and we think we've come out with a decent mix. We were more than happy to take Tambling on board after Hawthorn took (Jarryd) Roughead, because we rate him very highly; we rated all of the top four. We've got a couple of guys who can be thrown around anywhere. It's going to be the department of youth at Richmond next year with the boys we took last year, so Graham appealed as a senior body, not only to stand up in games but to teach these kids as well." - Greg Beck, Richmond recruiting manager

The infamous Richmond draft of 2004, they certainly had a lot of picks to use. One superstar, four other players who get regular games, probably not a big enough return.

Deledio is great but they need a couple more like him, Richmond want to play him at half back, full forward and in the middle. The good thing for Richmond is that Deledio has the size, athleticism and skills to play in all those positions. He was the number 1 pick so this was expected.

Tambling and Meyer were draft mistakes. Too small, picked too high, Richmond need to trade them out to give the players a fresh start elsewhere.

Something that Richmond didn't do in many drafts was try to find help for Richardson. Both Pattison and McGuane were drafted as possible forwards, while that didn't really happen it didn't stop those players from contributing. Pattison is the backup ruckman and McGuane has found a spot in the back line.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Port Adelaide
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June 6th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Port Adelaide

11 Adam Thomson

19 Ryan Willits

34 James Ezard

35 Fabian Deluca

51 Ben Eckermann


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We looked at the going-home factor, because that has really affected us over the last couple of years ... Ben (Eckermann) and Adam (Thomson) have both come from Sturt, so their mateship should work well." - Mark Williams, Port Adelaide coach

The 2004 AFL draft wasn't the most important thing that year for Port Adelaide as they had just won the Grand Final. With Josh Carr going to Fremantle, the Power were able to use some extra picks but it didn't do a lot for them.

Port Adelaide made an effort to find a future ruckman to replace Lade, Brogan and Primus and picked Willits and Deluca. Both are still at Port Adelaide, with Willits now on the rookie list, but they could be gone before Lade and Brogan are. Thomson is a useful player for Port Adelaide, but the Power could have used that pick on Cameron Wood and gone with smaller players later in the draft.

Port Adelaide decided to keep their picks and to look to the future with this draft, instead of trading for veterans that could have helped them defend their title in 2005. It was an idea that did make some sense but they just picked the wrong players.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Melbourne
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June 5th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Melbourne

13 Matthew Bate

15 Lynden Dunn

43 Michael Newton


From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We have gone for the players that we rated in those positions so we are happy, plus they are three big, strong boys so it's good ... all three boys are young and barely eligible for the draft.'' - Craig Cameron, Melbourne recruiting manager

Melbourne are not doing too well at the moment but at least all the players they picked in this draft are still on the list. Maybe they were hoping one of these players would be a star centre half forward but that doesn't look like happening, but they are all capable players.

Bate is a very mobile and skilled medium forward who can cover a lot of ground and is a difficult matchup for opposition teams. Dunn has been tried as a key forward and also a midfield tagger, like Bate he can take a mark but isn't big enough for the centre half forward spot. Newton is an option at full forward with Neitz gone, Newton can certainly take a big mark.

Melbourne knew they needed future tall forwards and used their draft picks well. At the moment it doesn't look like Bate or Dunn will become the power forward they need, maybe they get a bit stronger and eventually play in that role but even if they continue as a secondary option around half forward they will help Melbourne immensely in the years to come.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - North Melbourne
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June 4th 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


Player Of The Week

The Saints might have been in trouble if they had lost to Melbourne. Very early on it was evident that the Saints were going to be tough at the football and Luke Ball was leading the way.

Ball was often first to the ball, and the only way Melbourne could slow him down was against the rules, Ball received 7 free kicks and didn't give any away. Ball is known for his tackling, and he showed the Melbourne players how it is done with his 10 tackles.

Luke Ball had 18 possessions in the first half, there were 15 Melbourne players who had less than 18 possessions for the entire game. Ball also led the Saints in contested possessions.

With 29 possessions, 10 tackles, 7 frees for, 6 marks and 1 goal it was a huge round 10 game for Luke Ball.


Luke Ball's profile at the St Kilda site


Round 9, Player Of The Week
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June 3rd 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - North Melbourne

42 Jesse Smith

58 Brad Moran

68 Ben Schwarze

74 Daniel Pratt

From The Age: Who your team picked
THE CLUB SAYS "We're happy with the mix of players we've got. We're absolutely over the moon to have Jesse Smith on our list. Brad Moran may be a bit out of left field, he's only played 14 games of footy. We've been following him all year ... and we're really excited about how we can develop him." - Neville Stibbard, Kangaroos recruiting manager

The Kangaroos used this draft to trade for Nathan Thompson. They may try to put a positive spin on the trade but Hawthorn did a lot better, the Hawks would not question this deal but North Melbourne must sometimes wonder why they did it. The Kangaroos' most successful season in recent years was also the one when Thompson was sidelined due to injury. Several teams did improve because they traded away high picks for big players, like Geelong and Sydney, but the Kangaroos didn’t get the help they were hoping for.

The good news for the Kangaroos is that they drafted well with the later picks that they kept. Pratt was given another chance by North Melbourne and has made the most of it. The Brad Moran pick was also a good move, nothing wrong drafting someone very tall who can run, but they couldn't find a spot for him with Petrie, McIntosh and Hale. Moran is now a Crow.

The best part of this draft for North Melbourne is Jesse W Smith. Taken as a father/son selection, Smith is a future superstar if his ankles let him play. Smith is expected to become a tall midfielder, after starting his career as a running defender, and is probably a future captain.


The Craziness Of The 2004 AFL Draft - Hawthorn
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June 2nd 2008 @ 02:45

Posted By: Sports Insider - Category: AFL Talk
   


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