AFL Draft 2014

Sydney are making an absolute killing via concessions ATM. The COLA isn't the problem - the elite talent they're getting for SFA is. I'm not against the academies the eastern states have, where Collingwood spend money on facilities for current players the football department at Sydney/GWS/Brisbane/GC spend their money on the academies so the academies existing directly pulls funds away from development of current players - of course if they're plowing money into the academy they should get a benefit but it's really becoming quite severe now.

I mean look at the players they've recruited due to AFL concessions on recruiting. They've taken absolute advantage of all the schemes available to everyone and now they're dominating with their own schemes.

Currently Listed:
2007: Craig Bird (Pick #59, NSW Scholarship)
2008: Mike Pyke (Pick #57 Rookie Draft - INTERNATIONAL)
2011: Tom Mitchell (Pick #21, F/S)
2012: Brandon Jack (Pick #57 Rookie Draft - ACADEMY)
2012: Sam Naismith (Pick #58 Rookie Draft - ACADEMY)
2013: Patrick Mitchell (Pick #45 Rookie Draft - INTERNATIONAL)
2013: Lloyd Perris (Pick #55 Rookie Draft - ACADEMY)


Busts:
2007: Brendan Murphy (Pick #26 Rookie Draft, INTERNATIONAL)
2008: Kyle Coney (Pick #43 Rookie Draft, INTERNATIONAL)
2009: Chris McKaigue (Pick #63 Rookie Draft, INTERNATIONAL)
2009: Nathan Gordon (Pick #71 Rookie Draft, NSW Scholarship)
2009: Dylan McNeil (Pick #75 Rookie Draft, NSW Zone)
2010: Eugene Kruger (Pick #88 Rookie Draft, NSW Zone)
2011: Jack Lynch (Pick #95 Rookie Draft, NSW Scholarship)



And the future:
2014: Isaac Heeney (Late 1st, Probably pick #18, ACADEMY)
2015: Josh Dunkley (Late 1st, Probably pick #18, F/S)
2015: Callum Mills (Late 2nd, Probably pick #36, ACADEMY)


Tom Mitchell would have been top 5 in his draft year. Craig Bird would have been significantly higher. Naismith would have been in the ND and Perris would have been an early second round selection. They've essentially gained a high first rounder (as the pick they used on Mitchell is what Perris is worth, Mitchell being worth pick 5 gives them a free first rounder essentially). Brandon Jack too would have been higher.

And it's getting much worse now with the academies finally spouting out players now that they're established. Heeney is a top 5 talent, I'd pick him up after I'd pick up Wright and Durdin. They'll get a top 5 talent with a late first. Next year they're even luckier than they've got two, instead of them being spread and them losing two late firsts over two seasons they even get one of them with a 2nd. Josh Dunkley is a top 5 pick in next year's draft. If he were in this year's draft he'd be the best midfielder (next year's draft is loaded), he's a better prospect than even Heeney. Callum Mills is beginning to emerge as an elite prospect too. Don't be surprised if he pushes to top 5 range but right now I rate him as a top 10 talent.


Sydney are currently winning. They're elite. The point of the draft is to give the elite talent to the bottom clubs while restricting it away from the top clubs. Between 2011-2015 they will get a premiership midfield with their draft selections instead of 'components of a good team' as their picks should yield.

Tom Mitchell: Top 5 talent for Pick 21
Lloyd Perris: Top 20 talent for Pick 130
Isaac Heeney: Top 5 talent for Pick 18
Josh Dunkley: Top 5 talent for Pick 18
Callum Mills: Top 5-10 talent for Pick 36

And that's before even considering B. Jack and Naismith who both will be profitable returns on their investment.

Elite draftees offer immediate production for very little cost. These players will be able to contribute to the team for 2 seasons while being on a 100k contract. They'll help keep them under the cap, too.

People are worried about GC/GWS? Be warned, Sydney are the real threat. They've got a premiership midfield coming through that they're paying SFA to gently replace their incumbent premiership midfield. They won't fall out of the top 6 for the next 10-12 years.

 

champs on fox footy right now, btw.

 

Victoria absolutely dominating. WA have so many inside mids and outside mids who can't kick so it's pretty bad.

 

Metro playing WA now and in 10 mins it'll be country v SA

 

Didn't have his best day imo

 

I didn't even notice him.

 

Not sure he played tbh

 

Sam Day is a good comparison on many levels except I feel Goddard's slightly weaker forward and better back than Day. Both are athletic KPFs with the pace, power, leap and agility, both have bulkier and filled out frames compared to other kids (though Goddard is filled out a bit more) and both have naturally wide frames especially around the upper torso which makes them a bit of a wrecking ball. I'm not a massive wrap on Goddard - for someone as athletic as he is he's not great at ground level, doesn't read the flight too well and isn't much of a contested marker. On the lead he creates separation but isn't a one grab player and his leading patterns aren't great, never in the right spots forward. I'm not a huge fan, most think he's a top 5-10 prospect though.

 

Daniel would have won it had he played 4-5. Petracca was very good, though.

 

I don't. Not as the 20-25 pick everyone else seems to.

16 midfielders in the aa team too. Only 2 forwards named. Enough said. Awful team.

 

Most players only played 4-5 anyway with the new rules (32 players from each side had to play at least 2 games so there was a lot of rotation. All the metro boys only played 4-5.... Some sa/wa 6 though)

And Daniel was that good in those 3. I'll post some highlights for you, without a doubt the best player in the champs

 

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