David Rodan: Speed And Agility Are His Powers
According to the Wikipedia site, "Rodan's primary weapons are his speed and agility", but that is describing a monster who lives in Japan. According to many Port Adelaide fans, David Rodan's primary weapons would also be his speed and agility. Every team in the AFL had several chances to grab David Rodan, now he is playing for the Power and grabbing the football nearly 20 times a game.
The Power had the Burgoynes, Ebert, Mahoney and Pearce on their list, and in the draft they already had picked Boak, Krakouer and Gray, so they had the small forward/midfielder position under control and still went for Rodan with the last pick of the 2006 AFL National Draft. Going on the first 2 games, and the preseason when Rodan was also a star, the Power made a wise choice.
Rodan's profile at the Power site
Here are some possible decisions that clubs could have made after the 2006 AFL season, and if they could go back and change their minds they certainly would.
Adelaide
Bryce Campbell or David Rodan?
Campbell was supposed to be a recruit who was ready, an injury has kept him out of games, but he wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective as Rodan is.
Brisbane
Rhan Hooper or David Rodan?
If they knew Hooper would not be there for the preseason then they might have moved him along, Rodan would have been a more than adequate replacement.
Carlton
Matthew Lappin or David Rodan?
Both short, but one of them has effort, determination, strength and youth on his side. Rodan would have been a good compliment to the height they have in the forward line with the Blues playing Fevola, Fisher, Whitnall and Mr Kennedy.
Collingwood
Tyson Goldsack or David Rodan?
The Magpies have a few small forward options like Medhurst and Davis, Rodan would have been a welcome addition to that group.
Essendon
Mark Bolton or David Rodan?
Bolton seems to have been at Windy Hill as long as Sheedy has, no real surprise that he was brought back. Jetta, Davey and Hislop were good draft picks as the Bombers wanted to address their midfield, Rodan could have been another asset that the Bombers could use in the middle as well as around the goals. Rodan did kick 5 goals against Bendigo last season, so the Bombers would have known that Rodan could still play.
Fremantle
Adam Campbell or David Rodan?
They traded Medhurst, Rodan would have been a perfect replacement. If they knew that Farmer was going to have a lengthy suspension then Rodan might have been a draft pick by the Dockers.
Geelong
Steven Johnson or David Rodan?
With Nathan Ablett stepping up to the usual Ablett standard of play there may not be a spot for Johnson when the Cats do consider him for selection. Geelong have G Ablett, Chapman, Varcoe, Byrnes and Stokes who can play in the forward line but Rodan would have been another option and could have allowed Chapman and G Ablett more time in the middle too.
Hawthorn
Joel Smith or David Rodan?
Smith is not part of their future, his spot is now taken by Birchall, Guerra, Young and Brown. The Hawks have an exciting forward line and the marking power of their talls would have been complimented by Rodan.
Kangaroos
Ben Warren or David Rodan?
The problem with the Kangaroos has been their propensity for acquiring "recycled" players, but drafting Rodan would have been a good move compared to a lot of the things the Kangaroos have done with drafts and trading.
Melbourne
Isaac Weetra or David Rodan?
The Demons need a lot of immediate help, in the forward line and the midfield. Rodan would have fitted in very well.
Richmond
Carl Peterson or David Rodan?
The Tigers could have drafted him, although that would have meant the coach admitting a mistake, they obviously declined to do that. While at the time the delisting could be justified, if the Tigers could undo what they did then Rodan would still be in yellow and black.
St Kilda
Matthew Ferguson or David Rodan?
The Saints thought Ferguson was the best player available, he wasn't. Rodan would have been a player who could play the way their new coach wants the Saints to play.
Sydney
Peter Faulks or David Rodan?
The Swans don't have many holes in their team, but if Nick Davis is out then the Swans don't have a lot of small forwards to choose from. Rodan's tackling is something that would have helped him fit in with the Swans style of play.
West Coast
James Thomson or David Rodan?
The Eagles still need to find more goals, Rodan would have been a solution.
Western Bulldogs
Paul O'Shea or David Rodan?
The Bulldogs are overloaded when it comes to small forward/midfielders. Maybe O'Shea, who was the Bulldogs’ last choice in the draft, becomes a good player in a couple of years, but Rodan running around with Akermanis and Johnson in the Bulldogs' forward line would have been worth watching.
The Power had the Burgoynes, Ebert, Mahoney and Pearce on their list, and in the draft they already had picked Boak, Krakouer and Gray, so they had the small forward/midfielder position under control and still went for Rodan with the last pick of the 2006 AFL National Draft. Going on the first 2 games, and the preseason when Rodan was also a star, the Power made a wise choice.
Rodan's profile at the Power site
Here are some possible decisions that clubs could have made after the 2006 AFL season, and if they could go back and change their minds they certainly would.
Adelaide
Bryce Campbell or David Rodan?
Campbell was supposed to be a recruit who was ready, an injury has kept him out of games, but he wouldn’t be anywhere near as effective as Rodan is.
Brisbane
Rhan Hooper or David Rodan?
If they knew Hooper would not be there for the preseason then they might have moved him along, Rodan would have been a more than adequate replacement.
Carlton
Matthew Lappin or David Rodan?
Both short, but one of them has effort, determination, strength and youth on his side. Rodan would have been a good compliment to the height they have in the forward line with the Blues playing Fevola, Fisher, Whitnall and Mr Kennedy.
Collingwood
Tyson Goldsack or David Rodan?
The Magpies have a few small forward options like Medhurst and Davis, Rodan would have been a welcome addition to that group.
Essendon
Mark Bolton or David Rodan?
Bolton seems to have been at Windy Hill as long as Sheedy has, no real surprise that he was brought back. Jetta, Davey and Hislop were good draft picks as the Bombers wanted to address their midfield, Rodan could have been another asset that the Bombers could use in the middle as well as around the goals. Rodan did kick 5 goals against Bendigo last season, so the Bombers would have known that Rodan could still play.
Fremantle
Adam Campbell or David Rodan?
They traded Medhurst, Rodan would have been a perfect replacement. If they knew that Farmer was going to have a lengthy suspension then Rodan might have been a draft pick by the Dockers.
Geelong
Steven Johnson or David Rodan?
With Nathan Ablett stepping up to the usual Ablett standard of play there may not be a spot for Johnson when the Cats do consider him for selection. Geelong have G Ablett, Chapman, Varcoe, Byrnes and Stokes who can play in the forward line but Rodan would have been another option and could have allowed Chapman and G Ablett more time in the middle too.
Hawthorn
Joel Smith or David Rodan?
Smith is not part of their future, his spot is now taken by Birchall, Guerra, Young and Brown. The Hawks have an exciting forward line and the marking power of their talls would have been complimented by Rodan.
Kangaroos
Ben Warren or David Rodan?
The problem with the Kangaroos has been their propensity for acquiring "recycled" players, but drafting Rodan would have been a good move compared to a lot of the things the Kangaroos have done with drafts and trading.
Melbourne
Isaac Weetra or David Rodan?
The Demons need a lot of immediate help, in the forward line and the midfield. Rodan would have fitted in very well.
Richmond
Carl Peterson or David Rodan?
The Tigers could have drafted him, although that would have meant the coach admitting a mistake, they obviously declined to do that. While at the time the delisting could be justified, if the Tigers could undo what they did then Rodan would still be in yellow and black.
St Kilda
Matthew Ferguson or David Rodan?
The Saints thought Ferguson was the best player available, he wasn't. Rodan would have been a player who could play the way their new coach wants the Saints to play.
Sydney
Peter Faulks or David Rodan?
The Swans don't have many holes in their team, but if Nick Davis is out then the Swans don't have a lot of small forwards to choose from. Rodan's tackling is something that would have helped him fit in with the Swans style of play.
West Coast
James Thomson or David Rodan?
The Eagles still need to find more goals, Rodan would have been a solution.
Western Bulldogs
Paul O'Shea or David Rodan?
The Bulldogs are overloaded when it comes to small forward/midfielders. Maybe O'Shea, who was the Bulldogs’ last choice in the draft, becomes a good player in a couple of years, but Rodan running around with Akermanis and Johnson in the Bulldogs' forward line would have been worth watching.
