http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...2-19742,00.html

Melbourne took Aaron Davey at pick three in the 2004 rookie draft and had hoped to select Foley next.

But Richmond pounced at pick four and has watched Foley transform into a midfield star.

The Demons had the chance to take Davey in the pre-season draft, then pick up Foley before Richmond in the rookie draft.

Instead, it is believed the coaching department over-ruled the recruiting team and took former West Coast Eagle Phil Read.

would be handy in our midfield instead of Phil Read... probably one of Cameron's biggest blunders, along with selecting Troy Longmuir when he was seriously looking at Simon Black...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...2-19742,00.html

would be handy in our midfield instead of Phil Read... probably one of Cameron's biggest blunders, along with selecting Troy Longmuir when he was seriously looking at Simon Black...

Yeah...but how would he know. He basically says in the article that Foley was [censored] and for all we know if we did pick him he could still possibly be [censored] knowing how we develop players. No football recruiter is a seer.

i agree, every recruiter would have some regrets... this isn't having a go at craig cameron...

the bloke in charge of freo has a list an arm long of blunders...

it's always interesting to look back in hindsight though...

Yeah...but how would he know. He basically says in the article that Foley was [censored] and for all we know if we did pick him he could still possibly be [censored] knowing how we develop players. No football recruiter is a seer.

if he was [censored] then why did richmond pick him up,

i am glad cc is gawn

i agree, every recruiter would have some regrets... this isn't having a go at craig cameron...

the bloke in charge of freo has a list an arm long of blunders...

it's always interesting to look back in hindsight though...

Yes but there will always be regret. You look at ever single pick CC ever made and there will always be a player picked after that pick that is heaps better. In many ways its an impossible task to get it right.

Players can look good in under 18's and have a great season then either get injured or simply wilt at the top level. Look at Nick Smith...196cm, 95kg as an 18 year old, captain of South Australia Under 18's. Had a great season and was taken with the number 15 pick...

probably one of Cameron's biggest blunders, along with selecting Troy Longmuir when he was seriously looking at Simon Black...

Hardly. Every other club, including Richmond, passed on Foley numerous times before he was eventually taken in the rookie draft.

How the article compares missing out on Foley to the Tiger's mistake of missing Pavlich and Franklin is laughable seeing as very few sides had access to those players.

if he was [censored] then why did richmond pick him up,

i am glad cc is gawn

this is the worst post I have ever read...

Hardly. Every other club, including Richmond, passed on Foley numerous times before he was eventually taken in the rookie draft.

How the article compares missing out on Foley to the Tiger's mistake of missing Pavlich and Franklin is laughable seeing as very few sides had access to those players.

Yep.

I'm just glad we didn't miss out on Davey as well.

Instead, it is believed the coaching department over-ruled the recruiting team and took former West Coast Eagle Phil Read.

Doesn't that mean it wasn't Cameron's decision?

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...2-19742,00.html

would be handy in our midfield instead of Phil Read... probably one of Cameron's biggest blunders, along with selecting Troy Longmuir when he was seriously looking at Simon Black...

Huh?

The excerpt you've quoted suggests that the coaching department - ie. Daniher - over-ruled the recruiting department - ie. Cameron - when it came to picking up Read instead of Foley.

However, you then go on to state that electing to pick up Read instead of Foley is one of Cameron's biggest blunders.

Doesn't that mean it wasn't Cameron's decision?

correct... aplogies to craig cameron...

if he was [censored] then why did richmond pick him up,

i am glad cc is gawn

CC selected Aaron Davey when the rest of the AFL overlooked him

I've been critical of CAC performance but every single club passed on Foley, can't really complain about that. I doubt that anyone would have predicted the way he's come on, even the tigers

ah well.. we got Davey. Can't have it all our own way.

AFL National Draft held at the end of Season 2003 2003 AFL National Draft Summary

Rnd Pick Drafted By Player Current Team Games Since Drafted

1 Priority Western Bulldogs Adam Cooney Western Bulldogs 94

2 Priority Carlton Andrew Walker Carlton 74

3 Priority Melbourne Colin Sylvia Melbourne 57

1 4 Western Bulldogs Farren Ray Western Bulldogs 62

1 5 Melbourne Brock McLean Melbourne 68

1 6 Essendon Kepler Bradley Fremantle 49

1 7 Geelong Kane Tenace Geelong 54

1 8 St Kilda Raphael Clarke St Kilda 34

1 9 North Melbourne David Trotter 7

1 10 Fremantle Ryley Dunn Fremantle 5

1 11 West Coast Beau Waters West Coast 60

1 12 Fremantle Ryan Murphy Fremantle 34

1 13 Essendon Brent Stanton Essendon 83

1 14 Adelaide Fergus Watts 6

1 15 Port Adelaide Troy Chaplin Port Adelaide 48

1 16 Sydney Josh Willoughby 0

1 17 Collingwood Billy Morrison 0

1 18 Brisbane Llane Spaanderman 3

2 19 Fremantle David Mundy Fremantle 71

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 36 Father/Son Melbourne Christopher Johnson Melbourne 23

3 37 Father/Son Richmond Thomas Roach 11

3 38 Father/Son Geelong Mark Blake Geelong 40

3 48 Father/Son Collingwood Heath Shaw Collingwood 60

4 52 Melbourne PASS

4 53 Richmond Daniel Jackson Richmond 40

4 54 Geelong PASS

4 55 St Kilda Sam Fisher St Kilda 78

4 61 Brisbane Michael Rischitelli Brisbane 51

5 62 Western Bulldogs PASS

Plenty of picks we could have used. The Footy Dept didn't want to. ((Aaron davey????????))

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AFL Rookie Draft held at the end of Season 2003 2003 AFL Rookie Draft Summary

Round Pick Drafted By Player Current Team Games Since Drafted

1 ---- 1 Western Bulldogs James Condos 0

1----- 2 Carlton Andrew Carrazzo Carlton 70

1 ---- 3 Melbourne Aaron Davey Melbourne 89

1 --- 4 Richmond Nathan Foley Richmond 56

1 ---- 5 Geelong Luke Buckland 0

1 ----- 6 St Kilda Dylan Pfitzner 0

1 ----- 7 North Melbourne PASS

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ah well.. we got Davey. Can't have it all our own way.

A young small midfielder who didn't seem to have much pace and poor kicking skills. It's a bit harsh to crucify CAC for that one.

what a joke of a story, every single club has these situations, the journo must have been getting desperate...

was slow and poor skills when he trained with us.. why would we take him?

and if it came down too foley or davey, who would you really want?

what a joke of a story, every single club has these situations, the journo must have been getting desperate...

was slow and poor skills when he trained with us.. why would we take him?

and if it came down too foley or davey, who would you really want?

This is why there's a rookie draft........

but we had draft spots to use but the footy dept' decided against it. They just didn't have a strong enough belief in rejuvenating the list at that time.......

I'm sure it's not just selective reading on my part, but it appears many posters have missed the gist of the argument the article was making.

Craig Cameron wanted both Davey and Foley. Instead of picking Davey in the PSD the recruiting team were over ruled and had to take Phil Read. This meant that Richmond bounced us in taking Foley before our second rookie pick. Foley and CAC are now at the same club, so it's ironic.

BTW - I think most must have glazed over the bit where it credits Foley's development with a program designed by Bohdan. Of course when it comes to footy some people are either completely black or completely white.

Round Pick Drafted By Player Current Team Games Since Drafted

1 ---- 1 Western Bulldogs James Condos 0

1----- 2 Carlton Andrew Carrazzo Carlton 70

1 ---- 3 Melbourne Aaron Davey Melbourne 89

1 --- 4 Richmond Nathan Foley Richmond 56

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Looks to me like the bulldogs messed up worse than we did.

Who would have the Recruiters Job, i mean you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't-Picking 17 Year olds is like Tattslotto.

James Hird. I rest my case.

Who would have the Recruiters Job, i mean you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't-Picking 17 Year olds is like Tattslotto.

James Hird. I rest my case.

Great Call. After the first 20 picks its total pot luck.

Great Call. After the first 20 picks its total pot luck.

No - it becomes less sure, but it's also reliant on the skill and experience of the recruiter. Rivers, Whelan, Bruce, Bartram, Miller, Petterd and a host of rookies that have been elevated demonstrate that the worth of a good recruiting team. If it was purely pot luck, we'd just make our selections based on the consensus of Big Footy posters.

No - it becomes less sure, but it's also reliant on the skill and experience of the recruiter. Rivers, Whelan, Bruce, Bartram, Miller, Petterd and a host of rookies that have been elevated demonstrate that the worth of a good recruiting team. If it was purely pot luck, we'd just make our selections based on the consensus of Big Footy posters.

You say that because THEY HAVE come through. You can't unequivocally say that the recruiter new 100% that these blokes would shine at AFL level. The recruiters see that they MAY have the capacity to do so which is why they are picked. So in my estimation luck will always be a part of the process.

Just looking around and came across this:

http://www.thedrafter.net/afl-draft/afl-draft-2003.asp

Unbelievable. This is simply the worst draft of all time. We picked the right year to bottom out.