Well if we get number 1 what's your choice

Votes are in. Natanui it is. SHut the shop!

Well if we get number 1 what's your choice

Well we need midfielders & Key Forwards in equal proportions.

(Forwards) We have Miller, Robbo (next year), Newton (stil a work in progress), & Zomer (another 2 year project) as Tall forwards on our list. We lack a tall fast leading strong forward, but the danger here is that these types are often only one dimensional, se Gherig, Fevola, Qlynch. Give me a Key forward like Neitz who could play FF,CHF, CHB, Mid etc.

{Watts}

(Mids) We have Jones, Mclean, Valenti (in/under grunt & ball winners), Davey, Buckley(becoming in/outside ball carriers), Morton, Dunn, (recievers & outside collectors).

We need to add a mid with hardness & class in equal measure that can setup plays & or hit targets deep forward by foot.

{Rich}

Watts & Rich are most likely the 2 best junior footballers in the country, & are likely to go 1 & 2 in the upcoming draft, add to that players like Hurley, DeBoer, Yarran, Naitanui, Suban, Ziebell & others & there is a plethora of talent.

But the further from Pick No 1 you get the less talents you find in the one draftee so then you spend time trying to build these skills in through developement. Rarely as good as instinctive knowhow.

Natinui is to much of a talent to overlook.

All of the above names mentioned I would be happy with though.

Naita could be a ruck, CHF or FF. Also has speed to play a wingman type role. Too varied a talent to let slip.

Would be happy with rich also.

Just a small detail, it's Naitanui.

I've been on the Naita bandwagon but I still want to wait until the rest of the carnival (and season) before making a judgement. I guess at this stage I wouldn't really care if we ended up with any of Naita, Rich or Watts, let's face it, we need a ruck, gun mid and power forward so we'll win either way. All three look like they're going to be stars, it looks like a good year to have an early.pick

From the very little I have seen (bigpond highlights) Watts has it slightly ahead of Rich.

My synopsis:

Naitanui:

Freakish jump and run, but doesn't look 100% at home on the footy field, and it is this factor that is probably the hardest to teach.

Rich:

Ferocious attack, there is a tackle he lays in the highlights (bigpond, apologies to those who can't get on to it) that is something to behold.

Watts:

Smart, fast and strong overhead. It is difficult to get a really good idea from 1 minute of highlights, but he just looks like a forward that can make a goal from nothing. I think he represents the least risk, and by virtue of the position he can play the greatest upside.

Exciting times.

Whilst still mid-carnival...

Watts in a near dead heat with Hurley, Rich a short half-head third, and Natanui missing the winners circle.

I think Hurley is further away than most people think. I very much doubt that he would be thought about amongst recruiters in the top 3.

Having not seen any of them play it's impossible to make anything but the crudest of guesses, but based on what I've read and learned from people whose opinion I rate, I'd take Naitanui at 1. If we don't end up with #1 I'd take Watts with whatever we've got if he's still there.

Votes are in. Natanui it is. SHut the shop!

Go to the WAFL site and check on Natanui's form with Swan Districts....in and out of side and never listed in best players...sadly overrated..we need drafts with much better form than he shows

DemonSG,

I'm not giving my vote one way or another at the moment (although I lean towards Watts), however the reasons Naitanui has been in and out of the side is due to his involvement with the u18 Championships - not due to form. He is also named in the best players pretty regularly.

Far too early to make a final call, much will depend on players form at the carnival and the outcome of the trade period with the likes of Warnock or Prismall potential acquisitions.

At this stage I would say regardless of the outcome of trade period we should go for a tall with KPP potential, which at the moment would be Watts or Natanui.

However if Rich is the standout player at the carnival and by December is the clear 'best player available' I would not discount that option, there needs to be a balance between our needs and the quality of the player and if he or another player is head and shoulders above the rest it may be silly to pass them up and take a risk on a No 1 or 2 pick based only on our needs. Its arguable our midfield requires a classy onballer as much, if not more, than we require a key forward anyway.

Go to the WAFL site and check on Natanui's form with Swan Districts....in and out of side and never listed in best players...sadly overrated..we need drafts with much better form than he shows

Facts here are wrong. As above mentioned.

Regardless, the boy is only 17/18 we cannot expect miracles of him.

(Mids) We have Jones, Mclean, Valenti (in/under grunt & ball winners), Davey, Buckley(becoming in/outside ball carriers), Morton, Dunn, (recievers & outside collectors).

We need to add a mid with hardness & class in equal measure that can setup plays & or hit targets deep forward by foot.

Don't forget Grimes, and even Petterd.

Go to the WAFL site and check on Natanui's form with Swan Districts....in and out of side and never listed in best players...sadly overrated..we need drafts with much better form than he shows

Is everyone forgetting the marketing value that he will bring. Natanui would be worth thousands of extra memberships, and THOUSANDS of supporters to games to see the freak (in the nicest possible way) play. Meaning we limit the amount of cheques we are writing- hopefully eliminating it all together.

His skills are no secret, he is smahing records at the AIS. Agreed, that he isnt the stand out of the carnival, but I think that from a $$$ point of view, he cant be over looked so easily.

Natanui would be worth thousands of extra memberships, and THOUSANDS of supporters to games to see the freak (in the nicest possible way) play. Meaning we limit the amount of cheques we are writing- hopefully eliminating it all together.

His skills are no secret, he is smahing records at the AIS. Agreed, that he isnt the stand out of the carnival, but I think that from a $$$ point of view, he cant be over looked so easily.

The player who will bring the most people through the gates and effect memberships the most is the player who helps MFC win the most games.

All this 'freak factor' = $$$$ stuff is absolute garbage and to be honest a little distasteful.

Franklin hasnt had the same effect with the Hawks, the only player who I think would've had any notable impact on bringing supporters of other teams to games is Ablett Snr and to compare anybody to him at this early stage is idiotic.

The player who will bring the most people through the gates and effect memberships the most is the player who helps MFC win the most games.

All this 'freak factor' = $$$$ stuff is absolute garbage and to be honest a little distasteful.

Franklin hasnt had the same effect with the Hawks, the only player who I think would've had any notable impact on bringing supporters of other teams to games is Ablett Snr and to compare anybody to him at this early stage is idiotic.

No body is comparing him to Snr- that was your call.

And I agree with you that the best way and most sustainable way to get numbers through the gate is to build a winning sign. However, given our current membership status compared with other AFL sides, and our current fiscal position, you can’t possibly dismiss so easily, the benefit that Nat would bring.

We all know from experience that quality key forwards are very hard to come by.

Watts for me.

I've never seen watts but Rich I have and a quick mid to complement McLean, Jone and Grimes for the next 10 years would be nice.

given our current membership status compared with other AFL sides, and our current fiscal position, you can’t possibly dismiss so easily, the benefit that Nat would bring.

That is exactly what I am doing. You cannot rely on a draft pick to bring the club any benefit other than to play good footy.

If you think any AFL club is going to base a draft pick on some bizzare 'crowd pulling' scenario you are away with the fairies.

I didnt compare him to Ablett. YOU & many others are saying that he will bring opposition supporters through the gates - by inference you are comparing his abilities to the very few players that have managed to do so in the past, you can count them in one hand, and here you are declaring he has the ability to do the same, because of what? A big leap and a 'freaky' haircut?

I haven't seen any of them.

Doesnt Rich have question marks over his speed?

My choice will have to wait untill the carnival and the big decider - Robbie Warnock. If we get him, i would pick Watts/Rich.

All depends where we finish too.

I haven't seen any of them.

Doesnt Rich have question marks over his speed?

My choice will have to wait untill the carnival and the big decider - Robbie Warnock. If we get him, i would pick Watts/Rich.

All depends where we finish too.

he is quicker than greg williams

think Rich has the best football brain in the last 10 drafts

he might be the next barry cable

Still made Watts my #1 though

I would take Naitanui, with Watts a close second.

Naitanui because he could play in a few different roles

Looks like I just put Naita in front by 1. Sounds like he plays more like a mid than a ruckman.