MATURE Draftees - Finding the Next Kelly

[Crazy Dazz]

Loersch I've never seen, but he was certainly the only bright spot in a disastrous EF season. To kick the goals he did in a team that was getting thrashed every week is something.

He's very much your old skool big man, big, tall,, and strong, takes a great contested mark, but not especially mobile. But keep in mind that described Lycett in his early years.
He led the Colts goalkicking with 57 back in 2014, before missing a year with Glandular Fever. He had a string of injuries whilst at GC, and I'm not sure he's 100% yet.

[Perrythegreat]

Averaging 3 goals a game in an Sharks outfit that would rarely kick more than 8 -9 goals a game is an effort.

I reckon he's worth a rookie spot

[DALBY]

I hope so, we will make top 4 easily I believe. Our depth is huge, spots in the 22 will be hard to get, so much pressure on the players, which I love, no player will be going through the motions this year again.

[Perrythegreat]

Nobody took Loersch which was a shame. Be interesting to see how he goes this year if he is playing on

[Crazy Dazz]

Same old question, so thought I'd just bump the existing thread.

What do we need to add to our squad to challenge again for a flag?

Obviously adding Kelly ticks a huge box in the midfield. Not just in terms of the incremental improvement, but in terms of our ability to cover injury, etc.

Since this is a thread about personnel, I think we are well covered in Defence.

Nothing we can do about our rucking department short-term. Bringing in a top level Free-Agent might have been nice, but they are all accounted for. We just have to pray NicNat stays healthy, and if not, hat our 2nd tier guys are "good enough".

Forwardline, with Willie out and the risk of injury to JK, is where I feel we have some risk, and could potentially do something about it. One thing that is apparent in watching the WAFL is the lack of goalkickers coming through.
I'm hoping Brander has a big year, but he's still very young for a KPF. Cameron is our best fringe small fwd, but still needs development.

Is there anyone who could provide coverage as a Mature Draftee? ie somebody we can pickup for nix?

If nobody else offers him a gig, and we can get him for nothing, I wouldn't mind getting Jenkins. But I doubt he'd be willing to move all this way just to play in the WAFL on a Rookie's salary, all on the offchance that JK gets injured. Plus he's getting on himself, so could be false insurance.

[MrWoollie]

I think the easy ins are Cameron for Willie and get games into Brander for JK. I can't see JK being fit for 20+ games.

The one I'd love to see play 10+ games is Williams. We need the ruck and his athletic attributes should step straight up to AFL level. Going up against good ruckmen regularly will help his development.

I'd also like to see Watson get a few more games. Long term Jetta replacement maybe?

[Crazy Dazz]

I'd also like to see Watson get a few more games. Long term Jetta replacement maybe?

I'd be tempted to make that same leap, but currently chalk and cheese. Apart from his pace, Jetta's biggest attributes are his silky skills and ability to read the play. Watson is coming from a long way back in that regard.

[Streaker]

JACK COOLEY – CLAREMONT
189cm 80kg
The Claremont Junior made a name for himself with a stunning Grand Final performance that saw him win the Mel Whinnen Medal as the best player on the ground. In the Grand Final, Cooley collected 33 possessions (18 contested), won 14 clearances, laid 7 tackles, recorded 7 inside 50s and took 5 marks. Cooley is a big-bodied midfielder who is tough, competitive, defensively sound, balanced and reads the play well. In 20 games for the Tigers, Cooley averaged 22 possessions, 3 inside 50s, 3 marks and 3 tackles. His notable performances during the season came against Subiaco in round 14 (33 possessions, 5 inside 50s, 5 tackles and 5 marks), Perth in round 16 (31 possessions, 8 tackles and a goal) and South Fremantle in round 19 (28 possessions, 7 tackles and 2 goals). However, it was his finals campaign that really caught the eye of recruiters. Across the four finals, he averaged 26 possessions, 5 inside 50s, 5 tackles and 4 marks.

JEREMY GODDARD – CLAREMONT
A member of the AFL-AIS Academy in 2015 and 2016, Goddard has established himself as solid up-and-coming ruck prospect. In 21 games for Claremont’s League team, Goddard recorded the most hit-outs (828) of any ruckman in the WAFL Competition. He averaged 9 possessions, 39 hit-outs, 3 tackles and 2 marks. His best games came against East Perth in round 11 (12 possessions and 45 hit-outs), Peel in round 17 (14 possessions, 52 hit-outs and a goal) and Swan Districts (14 possessions and 43 hit-outs). As a ruckman, Goddard always carries a physical presence, whether it be through his strength in the ruck contest, his contested marking ability or his desire to lay a strong tackle.

BEN SOKOL - SUBIACO
The 23-year-old claimed the 2019 Bernie Naylor Medal after he booted 60 goals from 20 games. He also claimed the Simpson Medal as the best player on the ground in the 2019 WAFL Grand Final after he booted 6 goals from 15 possessions to guide the Lions to back-to-back premierships. As a medium-sized forward, Sokol has drawn comparisons to Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch. Both can play tall due to their marking ability, and their mobility allows them to be dangerous on the ground level. In 20 games for the Lions’ League team, Sokol averaged 15 possessions, and 8 marks. Other notable performances were against Perth in round 17 (21 possessions, 13 marks and 7 goals), Swan Districts in round 18 (22 possessions, 12 marks and 6 goals), West Perth in round 19 (16 possessions, 11 marks and 6 goals) and East Perth in round 20 (15 possessions, 13 marks and 6 goals).

ZAK PATTERSON – WEST PERTH
202cm 85kg
The Joondalup-Kinross junior is a ruckman who is athletic, skilful and has strong ruck craft for someone his age. In 12 games for West Perth’s Colts team, Patterson kicked 4 goals and averaged 14 possessions, 27 hit-outs, 3 marks and 2 tackles. His best performances came against Claremont in round two (12 possessions, 23 hit-outs and a goal), East Fremantle in round five (15 possessions, 19 hit-outs and a goal), Subiaco in rounds 12 (13 possessions, 5 marks and 2 goals) and 19 (21 possessions and 36 hit-outs) and East Perth in the Second Semi-Final (17 possessions and 27 hit-outs).

[Perrythegreat]

Sokol wouldn't be the worst for forward cover, but is more a Le Cras, that can play medium or small.

Some I've been reasonably impressed with in WAFL are (keep in mind I mainly go to Claremont games, maybe 5-6 times a year :

Mids:
Mountford - CL, 22yo, 183cm, 70kg
Back from AFL, was good in and under midfielder. Could do a job and still 22. Hard at it, and could do worse.

Ramsay, J - EP, 24, 184, 83
Won fairest and best, 24 years old, and dominated some games. Another with AFL system experience.

Jacob Dragovich - SF, 23, 181, 81
Had a really good year, another midfielder at that 24 age and looked well composed when I saw him a few times.

Fwds:
Sokol as noted.

Shaw, M - SF
55 goals, 197cms, 95kgs, 25yo.
Could be a good back up for Kennedy, but you still think if he went down we'd go for Brander/Waterman/O.Allen.

Reid, N, WC, 188cm, 86kg, 24
I wonder if we would look at one of the top ups. Probably too big a step, but looked handy whenever I watched our WAFL team.

Treacy, A, CL, 181cm, 80kg, 22
Classy, quick forward that kicked 18 goals in 19 games in first year in WAFL. From the Kimberly, and seemed to get better as the season went on.

Waterman, A, CL, 182, 88kg, 23
Had an up and down year, but kicked 19 goals in 12 goals after coming back into WAFL properly. Would be a great story, but can't see it happening.

Backs:
Strom, Z, SF, 198cm, 25
Bit of a utility, and can play ruck, KPD, KPF. Had a really good year.

Smallwood, D, CL, 195cm, 78kg, 21
Looked good in the air and read the play well. Probably not as good as Harry Edwards, but definitely had games where he looked a class above.

Marsh, H, SU, 189, 86, 25
Has been in the AFL system. Looked classy in the Subi back line.

Rucks:
Believe this is in another post, but the ones in the WAFL that are worth looking at are few and far between. Goddard the standout for me, albeit probably no better than Brooksby, Vardy.

[Crazy Dazz]

It's not often successful, but when it is this has the ability to pay-off big-time.
Willo was 29 before he debuted, he went on to play 37 games and kick 83 goals.
Sinca was 23
Gov, although rookie listed, didn't debut until 22
Willie was nearly 23
Armie only managed 36 games, but one of those was the 2006 GF.
Pridda was 21 when drafted
Hutchy was nearly 22
And now Kelly
And there have been others who managed a few games. Clearly not a guaranteed strategy, but nevertheless one that can deliver.

The important thing is to be ruthless with those that don't perform, especially after several years on an AFL list

[Perrythegreat]

Agree Daz.

I believe the stigma around draft picks sways list management decisions (i.e. we can't cut X because he was pick X). Similarly, players that are playing well and dominating at state league level don't get the opportunities their performances justify. Age usually the main thing.

Of my list, I am sure quite a few on there could do a job at an AFL club, especially the lower rated clubs like GCS, Carltank, Saints etc.