Apologies for keeping everyone waiting, there were around 500 posts for me to catch up to speed. It's good to see a few like minded dockerlanders already proposing the way I'd like to see things pan out.
I'm ecstatic to see us land pick 2 because it is absolute gold this year. The two best mids for mine and most others are Raynor and Davies-Uniake and that's what it will come down to. My personal preference is LDU for several reasons but Raynor would be a good get too.
LDU is a big bodied midfielder and I think we're more in need of that than a smaller speed demon like Raynor (although he shows plenty of aggression and physicality). With Mundy on his last legs and Barlow, Deboer and Suban gone or on the outer, Fyfe is our only real big body in the middle and Blakely the only one coming through to join him. We need that extra player feeding it out to the likes of the Hill's, Bennell, Son Son and the rest of our faster ball users. The good thing about LDU is he also has quite a turn of pace and that Mundy like manipulation of time and space to get out of tight traffic. He handballs like a young Haze and creates so much out of the middle. i believe he's the best pure midfielder and is a certainty to be a gun at AFL level.
I also like that he's a country vic kid which has proven repeatedly to be less of a flight risk in years past. Raynor is a flashy and powerful player who could turn games but I do worry about his go home factor and whether he would like to chase the spotlight. LDU has always struck me as more of a solid leader and respectful kid who would stand by Freo when his first contract is negotiated. It's something I'm sure the Freo draft team will weigh up.
I haven't moved from Brander at pick 5 and I'm stoked that we have pick 2 and an opportunity at a superstar mid as it greatly enhances our chances of picking up the best KPF at pick 5. He's the best mark and moves incredibly well for someone his size. He reads the play well and the ball in flight fantastically. The only knock on him tends to be his kicking which I have no issue with but the coaches should put a little work into that aspect.
There you go, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Jarrod Brander, please come to Freo!
