The Core and where we sit with ti

[cwrcyn]

We all know who our current core group are. But fast forward to the end of 2014 and we find ourselves in a precarious position, unless existing youngsters and new players develop beyond expectations.

If we exclude players over the age of 30, at the end of 2014 our core of proven players will be:

McEvoy (B grade, potential A grade)
Armitage (B grade)
Goddard (A Grade)
Gillbert (B grade, potential A Grade)
Clarke (B grade)
Ray (B grade)
Steven (B grade, potential A grade)
Gwilt (A grade)


Add to that group the three youngsters we all agree will make the grade:

Cripps
Siposs
Ledger


Then we will have a grand total of 11 players between the ages of 22 and 29 who will be adequate to good AFL players. None of these players are key position players and beyond Goddard there's no guarantee that any of them will be true stars

Currently we have 16 core players, with a strong percentage of very high quality players


Between now and the end of 2014, we must draft or develop at least 5 quality players, of which a couple need to be A Grade, in order to remain competitive. Of these players, it's critical that we pick up 3 key position players.

Given that in the past 7 national drafts, we have only secured the following draftees (not trades) who are still with us and are playing at least adequate and consistent senior football

Gilbert
Gwilt
Clarke
McEvoy
Steven
Armitage


what we've achieved in 7 years of drafting we will need to achieve in 2 or 3 years of drafting, but the degree of difficulty is greater still, given the need for talls. Along with this is the the hope that we lose none of our existing players in the next two years.


In a draft that is considered not as strong as last year, and with a swag of selections outside the top 20, our recruiters will need very ounce of judgement and luck to keep this club in a competitive position beyond the middle of this decade. And that's assuming that all our players will remain fit and healthy.


We all know the incredible importance of this draft. Let's hope the club can repeat the bargain pick-ups of last year, when it secured Ledger and Siposs.








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[bobmurray]

Good post..

It will be very interesting this draft, not only the mix of smalls and talls we draft but where they are at quality wise...In a supposed shallow draft they may all end up B graders which wont help down the track when the current A graders are done...

[meher baba]

Given that in the past 7 national drafts, we have only secured the following draftees (not trades) who are still with us and are playing at least adequate and consistent senior football

Gilbert
Gwilt
Clarke
McEvoy
Steven
Armitage


what we've achieved in 7 years of drafting we will need to achieve in 2 or 3 years of drafting, but the degree of difficulty is greater still, given the need for talls. Along with this is the the hope that we lose none of our existing players in the next two years.

That's actually six successful new players in 8 years of the main draft(Clarke was drafted in 2003). Plus McQualter for a while, and a successful recycled player in Gram: so we could say 8 reasonable uses of draft picks in total.

The worst part of it is that all 8 were drafted between 2003-07. None of our 2008, 2009 or 2010 picks have cut it at AFL level yet, with the partial exception of another recycled player in Dean Polo. We have some understandably high hopes about a few of the class of 2010, but how successful they will prove in the longer term remains to be seen.

We simply have to do well at this draft. Otherwise we are going to be cactus for a long, long time.

[Zed]

In a draft that is considered not as strong as last year, and with a swag of selections outside the top 20, our recruiters will need very ounce of judgement and luck to keep this club in a competitive position beyond the middle of this decade. And that's assuming that all our players will remain fit and healthy.

Unless Pelchen can work some magic in this draft and the next, then we are going to sink to the bottom half of the table in 2014 and stay there for a few years.

[Con Gorozidis]

We need some serious luck in the next 2-3 drafts.

Please please dont let this develop into another rph Clarke thread - but if if is in our core we are in all sorts.

Hopefully Stanley and Simpkin come in to the core group in the next 2 years.

[Con Gorozidis]

We need some serious luck in the next 2-3 drafts.

Please please dont let this develop into another Raph Clarke thread - but if he is in our "core" we are in all sorts.

Hopefully Stanley and Simpkin come in to the core group in the next 2 years.

[8856brother]

We need some serious luck in the next 2-3 drafts.

Please please dont let this develop into another Raph Clarke thread - but if he is in our "core" we are in all sorts.

Hopefully Stanley and Simpkin come in to the core group in the next 2 years.

Well you have now planted the seed Con. Good work.

[Doctor Two]

actually more worried about a GWS raid on Big Mac then Goddard to be honest. steven, big mac etc could give 10+ years to the club

how are these guys situated contractually

[clarky449]

For us to progress their will be players who were in the core group this year who shouldnt be in the core group next year.

[elizabethr]

actually more worried about a GWS raid on Big Mac then Goddard to be honest. steven, big mac etc could give 10+ years to the club

how are these guys situated contractually

He will be of more value if he learns to jump off the ground!

[Doctor Two]

actually more worried about a GWS raid on Big Mac then Goddard to be honest. steven, big mac etc could give 10+ years to the club

how are these guys situated contractually

He will be of more value if he learns to jump off the ground!

white men can't jump?