blu944 wrote:
Analysing the draft over a period of time is pointless, it changes every year because every year there are different kids in it. If we're talking about how much better pick 3 is to pick 5, then it depends who WH rates as the top 5 players and how much difference there is between them. In 2000 there was a massive difference between the top 3 and the rest, we had pick 4 - shame about that. Last year Brisbane played North towards the end of the year, the winner would take pick 4 the loser pick 3, seemingly a difficult game when many thought there was a standout 3 kids in Gibbs, Gumblton, and Hansen; but who knows? maybe Brisbane rated the draft Luenberger, Selwood, Thorp and they ended up with their first choice.
Maybe WH will be under instructions to use one of his first 2 picks on a ruckman, given there are so many available in this draft it's highly likely that the one we take at pick 4 could have been taken at pick 22. But by the same token, after all is said and done, maybe someone leaps from the pack and becomes a standout no.1 and picks 2 onwards are average in comparison, if that happens it has nothing to do with whether pick 2 has historically been any good.
Having more picks early is of course better because the recruiter can choose the ones they like, but the difference between the pick number may not be as large as it seems and recruiters can stuff up even with the right picks. Collingwood has been lauded for their picks of late, but in 2004 they traded out of pick 7 to get pick 10 and Chad Morrison believing the draft tapered off after the top 6. Pick 7 ended up being Jordan Lewis while they were stuck with Chris Egan and 2 years of Chad Morrison.
Historically clubs with strong lists have benefitted from getting a number of starting 22 players from the one draft or over a 2 year period. Geelong did it in 2001 with Bartel, Ablett, Kelly, Steve Johnson and David Johnson - they also rookied Carrazo and Malony. The Saints did it over 2 years getting Reiwoldt, Kosi, Ball, Clarke, Dal Santo, McGuire and Montagna - In 2 drafts worth of picks only Josh Houlihan, Daniel Wulf and Mark Gale are not in their best 22, poor drafting, trading and injuries since then has crueled them, but they were set up magnificently from those 2 drafts.
They aren't all early picks, they were just the right ones and developed well when they go to the club. Richmond had 5 picks inside 20 in 2004, at this stage it looks like 3 are going to be players, 1-2 being of any quality.
I can understand the pro-tankers given the priority system now makes it extremely hard to get 2 early picks and we're teetering on eligibility, but I'd wait and see what players are on offer before I start forming opinions on what is better for the club.
stop talking commensence
this thread is for ranting and raving

good work mate, couldnt agree more
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