I don't think we should pick based on how quick they climb but how high.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

I hope Yarran becomes a fantastic player for us.

But he did have exposed form at senior level in WA and I have yet to hear a plausible reason for his deplorable fitness levels. Someone mentioned his early injury in a competitive game. I think that was an early NAB Cup fixture in February (Hawthorn?). He was out for a couple of weeks with an ankle. We are now half way through the yaer and we are still accepting that he is short of a gallop. Not good enough.

He is a very high draft pick who shows very little intensity and, based on what I have seen when playing at senior level nothing particularly brilliant either. I don't think he deserved his call up when he got it and I couldn't believe he was rested for a Bullants game and then called back into the seniors the following week against Fremantle (I think).

Robinson was pick 40 and attacks every contest like it were his last. Garlett (a rockie) chases and harrasses constantly. Yes he makes mistakes but he has a crack. Aron Joseph the same.

I don't expect him to set the world on fire for 22 round but I do expect him to be committed to the cause in a more enthusiastic manner than he has displyed so far. To me it comes back to attitude and I don't like what I have seen so far.

Longer term project player. I trust the recruiters that they have seen something in the lad that will in time blossom into something (to quote Bruce Macaveny) 'delicious'. I havent seen any evidence of looming super-stardom in the games I've seen but i'm not an AFL recruiter. I hope I'm way off the mark and the guy becomes the next Ablett!

In the shorter term I think Ziebell might have fitted our needs better and would definately be having a bigger impact on our team at the moment. But then again I am just Joe Numptie out in internet land, what would I know??

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly

That is actually illogical and an invalid argument....at the time of calling out pick 6 how could you have any idea of who would be available at 40 let alone the rookie draft.

Very early to be making a call.

In the paper today they talk about how Ablett Jnr did SFA in his first few games.

Give the kid a break everyone

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It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it

Again a little knowledge is a dangerous thing......Yarran had niggles which hampered his preparation for the champs and IIRC also another niggle which hampered his draft camp.......so his previous 6 months were interrupted, not "just an ankle in the NAB"

Not all juniors come with a huge tank....but it's one of the things you can develop. Not all juniors come with Yarran's situational awareness, ability to sum up a situation and choose the best option....and execute with sublime skill.....much harder to develop.

Why did you quote me for this???

Here's what we knew when we drafted him:

- Shy. Took him long enough to feel comfortable in the Swan Districts.
- Fitness levels not great
- Laid back football style
- Arguably the most skilled player in last years draft

We won't see the best of him until he settles in and feels as if he's really a part of the club. For someone who is known to be shy by nature, it certainly affects how long the adjustment period takes. On the flip side we could have some cocky footballer who thinks their club is blessed to have his skills and graced is with their presence (Headland, Daisy), at least we have something to work with and we can teach Yarran how he should go about being a real professional.

Fitness wise he's obviously behind the 8 Ball (not being racist), and giving him a string of games in the seniors should help speed things up and who knows he could be flying by the end of the season. Once he gets used to the pace of the AFL and has enough or even more in the tank than what's required, he won't be worrying too much about catching his breath instead just going out there to play his natural game, which is definitely something worth waiting for. If he is mentored the right way fitness is a given. It's been said we have some of the best fitness people, so if you trust they'll handle things the right way, there is nothing to worry about.

Anyone can achieve an elite level of fitness, but not everyone can have elite skills. Take for example Fevola, he was quick, super talented but his work rate and endurance meant he wasn't ready to apply any of his abilities. Given time under a professional environment the level of fitness required was always coming his way. An acceptable work rate came to him naturally (maybe a few harsh words in between), couple that with his skills and now he's unstoppable. Yarran will be unstoppable.

Good post

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There's so much I could say...

I reckon you're on the money.

Great post. Thanks for reminding us. I'm a believer.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

My Yarran Prediction - 2011.

When we are smashing them everywhere, and he has had a couple of years to get right physically, he will come out of nowhere and kick 50 a year. Until then, we should be patient with him (and the rest of our very young team) while they get it together.

Natanui has not played yet and he is considered elite. Stephen Hill hasn't played many games either. First year players don't always impress from round 1.

It is good to see the fans excited about him though

Interesting that Ratts said today in his presser that Yazz had played quite a bit of his junior footy as a HBFer. Kind of alluded to maybe playing him there a bit.

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There's so much I could say...

..it's just the way the competition's progressed i guess.. ..the days where most teams could afford to let their youngsters take years to develope are fading.. ..only very strong/fit/un-injured teams can afford to give their kids years to come on.. ..unless they're 'project' types i guess.. ..but we don't wanna be using first round picks on project type flankers, or prolly any kind of project type.. ..i know he's young, hell i was saying elsewhere that i didn't think he's ready for AFL yet, and i still don't think he's up to speed yet..

..i'm just saying more in reply to those ppl saying he could take years to live up to his 'potential', that if he does take years we'll be behind in using a first round pick on him.. ..and ppl using players like gazza as examples of waiting years for brilliance.. ..sure, it took him years to become as good a midfielder as he now is, but he was a handy forward type early on and he didn't cost the catters a first round.. ..not to mention that gazza is brownlow material (has been before too) and there's no idea of knowing whether yaz will come as good..

..i think he could be something special yaz, but all the same if he takes a few years to play good/consistent footy.. ..a first round pick for a flanker is too much to wait a few years for, in the modern footy world..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

Gablett junior was a father son pick.

He would have gone much higher than 3rd rounder, much higher.

I think you can give some a year or two extra if you think the potential is there. Even with restricted lists.

If we had the must get potential out of them in the first two years philosophy then we would draft for type that way which would not be good. Why isn't a varied draft strategy a good one?

We are not drafting the Arian race.

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..i think that with us coming from so far behind, and with the other teams always striving to improve, our work is still ahead of us.. ..i hear what yer saying Jars (and others), and i reckon some kids need longer to come on.. ..it's just how fast the footy world is coming around these days is all, not saying i like it that way mind you.. ..just accepting that's often the way it is.. ..not saying our first rounders need to come in right away and have an impact, but if it takes them a few years to play good/consistent footy.. ..then for a 1st round i think that's a little too long.. ..if other teams are getting good footy out of their kids and we're not, it's like having less players on yer list to choose from in a way, especially for a team like ours that is light in regards to real depth..

..for what it's worth i can see he has talent, i hope he taps into it before a few years yanno.. ..plus, with interstate kids yer never know if fustration will creep in and they leave yer club for home before you manage to get any worthwhile return out of them..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..