Hello coaches and welcome to the annual report card of how you traded according to our experts (me) in the recent 2024 pre-season draft. Ararat Armadillos - Picks 3, 8, 27, 68. No great surprises here with @insider looking to add some long term youth and depth to an already highly competitive squad. The first 3 picks of the draft were pretty much locked in with Reid always going at 1 but it was who would go at 2 and 3. No doubts the Kangaroo faithful would love to get one of their boys in McKerchar, it wasn't to be and the highly talented Ryley Sanders became an Armadillo. Sanders' efforts in the pre-season have shown why he was always going in the first 3 picks and @insider will be hoping he can become the next best thing in Ararat. Not sure how it happened, but @insider was allowed (through crafty trading) to get two picks in the top 10 where he snapped Jed Walter with pick 8. Another highly talented player, they both might end up retiring in Ararat! Ins: Sanders, Walter, Laurie, Sellers Outs: Ziebell, Foley, Snelling, Bytel, McVee Draft Score – A Blanchetown Bunyips – Picks 9, 47, 63. A very quiet draft for the Bunyips with minimal player movements. After the excellent 10 year FU stats by @fresh, it was clear the Bunyips needed to sort out their FWD line. Three picks, three forwards, job done. Time will tell if the wizard Nick Watson can live up to the hype and produce decent scoring. It was a speculative draft for the Bunyips and picking up a two top 15 talents at pick 47 and 63 might be the steals of the draft or could be a work in progress, again only time will tell! Ins: Watson, Tholstrup, Jefferson Outs: Hughes, Macrae, Cameron Draft Score – C- Bueng Kan River Rats – Picks 17, 20, 21, 26. The River Rats and @choppers were allowed to sit back and watch the draft unfold whilst planning their picks to be taken within 9 selections of each other. Stroke of luck or some sweet arse planning? I am guessing the latter. Did someone say DPP? With @choppers first 3 picks he selected all players which have DPP, this will provide some great flexibility to his squad once his new players start getting regular games. Whilst the four new guys might not get a run in round one, there is a good chance one (Simpson) or two (Lazzaro) get a run later in the year. Ins: Lazzaro, Simpson, Graham, Hall Outs: Jonas, Perez, Hayes, Prior, Hammill, Sparrow, Hewett Draft Score – B- Carnamah Cormorants – Picks 1, 4, 5, 23, 29, 77 What a haul! Three picks in the top 5, @ron swanson picked himself up some serious talent. Harley Reid looks ready to go for the Cormorants and could easily see 20+ games this year. Dan Curtin will also be hoping to play in round 1 and instantly bolster the Cormorants already impressive line up. With the likes of Campbell, De Koning, Rioli, Weddle, Ashcorft, Brodie, Day, Hustwaite, Wardlaw and Darcy these additions should see the Cormorants performing exceptionally well in the next 2-7 years. But what about pick 5? Ethan Read. As a Ruck, he might not see much game time for the next 5 years, but could he be used in other positions? Clearly he has some talent and might be used anywhere on the field. With four rucks already on the list, did @ron swanson really need another Ruck? Probably not, but I think this might be a long term play used to improve future draft picks or it could be a missed opportunity. Moir and McAuliffe are potentially good pick ups, again, time will tell if they get the opportunities at Carnamah. Ins: Reid, Read, Curtin, Moir, McAuliffe, Khamis Outs: Tucker, Smith, Green, MacDonald, Dowling, Hough, Wood Draft Score – A-
Christmas Island Smugglers – Picks 14, 44. The Smugglers had a very quiet 2024 Pre-Season draft. Not much was doing for @DamoH this year as he found it hard to delist more than two players and one of those players got picked up in the draft! Pick 14 was very well used by @DamoH in picking up Jake Rogers who looks ready for AFL level football already. He might not play in the first half of the season, but will be ready to go once the opportunity knocks. Ins: Rogers, Koschitzke Outs: Bonner, Ceglar Draft Score – C- Coolgardie Prospectors - Pick 7 The Prospectors got into the draft and got out just as quick. Pick 7 took the talented wingman Caleb Windsor who no doubts @JPK is hoping to get plenty of games into him in 2024. Not much else to say here! Ins: Windsor Outs: Parfitt Draft Score - C Cow Bay Crocs - Picks 12, 18, 30, 48 Cow Bay knew what they needed this draft and went for it. They needed a back up ruck... Tick, Will Green. They needed depth, Dow and Burgoyne will give them that. Nothing fancy in this draft for @fresh, just a needs based analysis very well executed. Burgoyne has played 12 games at AFL level, coach @fresh will be hoping he can get another 12 out of him this year. Will Will fix the hole left by Will or will Will just be another dud Will? Ins: Green, Dow, Burgoyne, Dempsey Outs: Gould, Petrevski-Seton, Hardie Draft Score - C+ Eden Whalers - Picks 43, 73, 91 Whilst the rest of the competition was awaiting the start of the draft, coach @HOLKY decided to take a few days off for some deep sea fishing off the coast of Eden. Quoted as saying "lets just see what's left when I get a pick" he was no doubts watching from pick 30 to see who was indeed left. @HOLKY must have been a little bit excited to see Ryan Angwin still available at 43, a former top 20 draft from several years ago, he might just have picked up the diamond in the rough from the draft. It was at this point he must have decided, that's not crazy enough, I am going to pick up a player that is one head knock away from retirement, Tom McCartin. BUT, he wasnt done there, pick 91 rolls around @HOLKY grabs a dart and the names of the players left and bang, gets Callum Ah Chee. This was no ordinary draft for @HOLKY, either a master stroke or he has had a master stroke in private and come up with his new and improved list. Ins: Angwin, McCartin, Ah Chee Outs: Baker, Spargo, Gardner, McIntosh, McStay, Scully Draft Score - D
Exmouth Anglers - Picks 32, 35, 40, 50 @eagle_eyed was also spotted out fishing whilst waiting his turn to draft, what else do you do in beautiful Exmouth? This coaching team at Exmouth took on a different approach to @HOLKY and decided they needed some un-tested youth. With the exception of Emmett (2 AFL games) this play from @eagle_eyed could truly pay off. No super-stars were drafted, just development players hoping to get a game in the future. @eagle_eyed also picked up Finn Macrae for a steal via the auctions who could just make an instant impact to the Anglers. Ins: Goad, Morris, Emmett, Demattia Outs: Rich, O'Neill, Greene, Drury, Fyfe Draft Score - C Groote Eylandt Barracudas - Picks 22, 25, 28, 109 No wholesale changes were really required by @YAD69, just some minor tweaks. Sitting back on the sideline for the start of the draft would have allowed @YAD69 ample time to evaluate who was left and swoop in with three quick picks. Youth over experience was taken as the Barracudas look to play the long game. Ins: Croft, Reid, Leake, Sullivan Outs: Riewoldt, Smith, Hall, Graham Draft Score: C+ Horsham Huskies - Pick 6 @Wolffy84 had one pick and dream. Was Zane Duursma that dream? only the team at Horsham will know! What the rest of us can tell you is that Zane Duursma has bucket loads of potential and sliding to six might just be a huge win for the Huskies. Ins: Duursma Outs: Mean, Fahey Draft Score: B Hughenden Prairie Dogs - Picks 10, 19 Hughenden's recruitment department had their next holidays booked and needed to get in and out of the draft stat! Two picks in the top 20 is what @Batfink needed to stew over and extract the highest value. Well, I think with pick 10 and 19 they did just that. Caddy and Edwards. Both players are highly likely to be be playing full time footy in the next 2 years and @Batfink wont have to wait long to capitalise on these picks. Ins: Caddy, Edwards Outs: Teakle, Shiels Draft Score: B
Love it, nice work @martyg Pretty much summed up my approach to the draft....a young ruck for the future and some (hopefully) decent depth. I've been eyeing Dempsey off (not in a stalker way) for a year now so was stoked to pick him up this draft when he looks like he's about to start getting some decent game time.
King Island Monarchs - Picks 2, 38, 46, 74 Mckerchar, Sanders, McKerchar, Sanders, Mckerchar, San....... McKerchar wins! In what no doubt took @Tylo a while to debate the pros and cons of pick two, he had a great decision to make. Both players have huge upside and we reckon McKerchar is a star in the making. McKerchar now gets to play in a midfield that is brimming with talent at the Monarchs alongside the likes of Green and Nash. After pick two, @Tylo decided he needed some new tyres for his Volvo and thought the best and cheapest options would be some retreads... Enter McCreery, Petty and Comben. Plugging some holes in the Monarchs team with some experience could help the overall scoring week to week, but at what cost to the future? It would be remiss of me not to call out Draft 1 pick 1, Nic Naitanui and his retirement, so much talent, so many unfortunate injuries. Ins: Mckerchar, McCreery, Petty, Comben Outs: Hickey, Cotchin, Naitanui, Mclean, Long Draft Score - B Korumburra Blowflies - Picks 15, 39, 41, 55 Coach @Mick did not have a lot of draft currency going into this draft, but that did not stop him trying! Offering several of his players to try and get back into the draft. The Blowflies have (without fact checking) the oldest list in the ORFFU. The oldest. So, with someone who loves the old blokes and the experience they bring to the table, who would coach @Mick bring in as his first pick? 27 year old Shaun Mannagh. With an average age of 27.6 years (by end of 2024) @Mick is not scared to hold onto experience. This was further proven as he took Sexton and Bonner later in the draft. I think this draft was a missed opportunity for Korumburra as they failed to cash in on their aging players like Sloane, Martin, Howe and Goldstein. Did someone say Ruckmen? The Blowflies love their big men with four rucks already on their list and subsequently traded in their fifth ruck with Edwards. Does anyone really need that many rucks? I think @Mick has a master plan which is yet to unfold! Ins: Mannagh, Sexton, Edwards, Bonner Outs: Franklin, Anderson, Menegola Draft Score: D+ Nuytsland Vikings - Picks 23, 34, 36, 37, 42, 45, 54 What a lot to unpack from the reigning OFFRU champion! If anyone was likely to keep his team together, it would be @bryzza, but it's not how this coach rolls. Cleary, Burgiel, Garcia, Shoenmaker... all good pickups and potential very good players in the next 2-3 years. The Vikings waited their turn in the draft and then snaffled up all the remaining talent with two picks in the 2nd round and four in the 3rd round. @bryzza didn't lose much with his delistings and gained a lot of youth in this draft, well played Sir. Ins: Cleary, Burgiel, Garcia, Shconemaker, Maric, Clohsey, Dean Outs: Hurn, Shuey, cunnington, Constable, Long, Cincotta, Stephenson Draft Score: A-
Pakenham Parasites - Picks 13, 31 @ddsaints continues to slowly build his team through this draft. With only two picks available, he clearly decided to keep bringing in young talent. Wilson was a good pick up for the Parasites and Hardeman should get plenty of opportunities to play. Slow and incremental list changes for Pakenham see this team building, but will @ddsaints have the patience to carry on with the plan? Ins: Wilson, Hardeman Outs: Rampe, Hipwood Draft Score: C Serengeti Buffaloes - Picks 11, 51, 53, 89 What a good draft for the Buffaloes - almost. O'Sullivan is a really good pick up down back for @wrightbrendan who should get to play AFL in 2024. Smith! what a steal at pick 51 and helps the Buffs straight away. But what about the Rucks? Did the recruitment team do enough to provide support to the injury prone Sam Draper? Kreuger might provide some support but probably not. Perhaps @wrightbrendan is aiming to swoop on a big man in the MSD to fix the issue, time will tell. Ins: O'Sullivan, Smith, Jones, Kreuger Outs: Lycett, Sheed Draft Score: B- Staghorn Flat Bulls - Picks 16, 33 Big bodied Stevens was the plan for @tyze1 and they got their man. With loads of higher draft picks available, @tyze1 decided at pick 16 to take number 58 talent, Stevens. Is this another master stroke taking him at 16 when he might have still been available at 33? let's see if this unfolds as a piece of brilliance or a slip. At pick 33 @tyze1 also looked down the national draft list to 54 to find another potential diamond in the rough with Roberts, the man had a plan and it was executed! Ins: Stevens, Roberts Outs: Butler, Konstanty, Zerk-Thatcher Draft Score: C-
And with that, its a wrap! Sorry for those that thought they were brilliant at drafting this year and scored lowly, not my call, it was a panel of your peers (me). For those that scored well, don't prove me wrong, give those young blokes a chance! Until the MSD, good luck coaches!
@martyg always interesting to hear other coaches thoughts in regards to your teams drafting. Thank you for the positive feedback. I traded in pick 24 with every intention to draft Burgiel, but when Cleary was still available I took a chance Burgiel would slide. I only had a small selection of players I wanted, I was lucky enough to grab them all. Garcia and Schoenmaker were a steal in my eyes could have gone in the twenties, took some depth in Maric and Dean now fit should slot in best 22. Clothsey had a stunning first year in VFL averaging in 90's and scored a debut in round 22. I went hard this year to give these blokes some time too cook. You're right I think teams in bottom are too eager to keep giving aaratt a leg up happens every year he scores top picks. Draft is pretty predictable with 99%of coaches picking players that were their AFL pick in the first round, makes it easier to narrow down picks from round two onwards.
well you have to admire his salesmanship, taking Judd McVee at pick 24 in the MSD and swapping him for pick 8 on the PSD is some sort of magic
Do we really want to ruin Marty’s great thread and work by making things personal? Glass houses and throwing stones anyone? There is a veto mechanism if people don’t think trades are fair, so use that instead of writing bitchy little comments weeks after the fact. It would be easy to absolutely eviscerate someone who has a worse grasp on grammar than my 3 year old, but I don’t want to. I’m really trying my hardest to be passive and positive, but there’s only so many times the bear can be poked. Please go about your business and keep my name (pseudonym) out of your mouth (keyboard).
Yeah. Good report. I'm interested to see how Angwin goes as a project player. He's had a lot of games with the vest.