As much as I want another forward, I'm convinced that Melbourne need a (potentially) gun midfielder even more.

The likes of McLean, Valenti, Moloney and Jones are all solid, but if they are the best midfielders then Melbourne won't ever truly contend.

If Rich is a player who can walk straight into the team and add some much needed class and polish, then I say get him.

It's a tough call. Dean Bailey was on MMM before the game today and said we'll be selecting the best player available at number 1. In that case, you could be a happy man, Clint.

It's a tough call. Dean Bailey was on MMM before the game today and said we'll be selecting the best player available at number 1. In that case, you could be a happy man, Clint.

But how can you choose "best available" when the 3 candidates are all so different and play completely different positions and have completely different attributes?

When it was Judd vs. Hodge vs. Ball, you could make the comparison (which funnily enough was wrong in the end). But when it's a forward vs. a midfielder vs. a ruckman the perception of best available comes down to who would be the best player for your club.

So yes we need a gun midfielder because our midfield is poor, but we also need a forward target. And are we chasing Warnock hoping to eliminate the choice down to just 2?

As much as I want another forward, I'm convinced that Melbourne need a (potentially) gun midfielder even more.

The likes of McLean, Valenti, Moloney and Jones are all solid, but if they are the best midfielders then Melbourne won't ever truly contend.

If Rich is a player who can walk straight into the team and add some much needed class and polish, then I say get him.

I'm with you mate. We need a gun mid-fielder so badly. When and who was our last AA,gun mid? Todd Viney?

I'm with you mate. We need a gun mid-fielder so badly. When and who was our last AA,gun mid? Todd Viney?

Yze I think, back when he came 3rd in the Brownlow. (2002?)

As much as I want another forward, I'm convinced that Melbourne need a (potentially) gun midfielder even more.

The likes of McLean, Valenti, Moloney and Jones are all solid, but if they are the best midfielders then Melbourne won't ever truly contend.

If Rich is a player who can walk straight into the team and add some much needed class and polish, then I say get him.

Maybe the dominance of Riewoldt of the last 10 weeks could influence the MFC to take a similar player in Watts. Well, probably not.

Our forward line is far worse then our midfield, and I'm sick of us kicking 3 goals every half. Still in the Watts camp at this stage but there's alot of time till draft day.

Wonder which mids we will draft hopefully Deboer, Sidebotton or Blease

But how can you choose "best available" when the 3 candidates are all so different and play completely different positions and have completely different attributes?

When it was Judd vs. Hodge vs. Ball, you could make the comparison (which funnily enough was wrong in the end). But when it's a forward vs. a midfielder vs. a ruckman the perception of best available comes down to who would be the best player for your club.

So yes we need a gun midfielder because our midfield is poor, but we also need a forward target. And are we chasing Warnock hoping to eliminate the choice down to just 2?

thats silly jaded..of course you can compare players that are complete opposites. Ash Hansen v Daniel Kerr v Kane Tenace. One is a Key position player, one is a nuggety midfielder and the other one is a 6 foot lightning fast midfielder. I know who i would take. Its stupid when people say you cant compare different players. Mal Michael v Franklin etc. ITs pretty bloody obvious.

Ash Hansen v Daniel Kerr v Kane Tenace.

Given that those three were all taken in different drafts that's a pretty crap comparison.

Kepler Bradley vs Kane Tenace vs Brock McLean would be a better example. If it's so obvious, who would you have taken? Hint: there were toss all commentators -- both pro and amateur -- at the time of this draft that rated McLean ahead of Tenace.

Im still in the Watts camp with this one. Our midfield is not that bad when all up and firing, and hopefully someone like a Buckley or Grimes or even Marric could fill the position of speedy, skillful midfielder. We need a big target, good mark, goal kicking forward from next season and beyond or we will remain the lowest scoring team in the comp for many more years, and we all know you don't win games with a score of under 10 goals very often

As much as I want another forward, I'm convinced that Melbourne need a (potentially) gun midfielder even more.

The likes of McLean, Valenti, Moloney and Jones are all solid, but if they are the best midfielders then Melbourne won't ever truly contend.

If Rich is a player who can walk straight into the team and add some much needed class and polish, then I say get him.

Unless you seriously believe Melbourne is capable of challenging the top 2 or 3 in the league withing 2 years I don't see the use of getting a "quick fix" in Rich. It's clear the club is going to rebuild basically from scratch, and given how far away they are you're better off getting Watts, shelving him for a couple of years then picking up what else you need inbetween. Nick Riewoldt clones don't grow on trees and if you look at the great midfielders of the competition there's a lot more of them taken in the 10-50 bracket than top line forwards

By the way, the go home factor here is huge.

We've already lost a gun midfielder to his home state, I rather it didn't happen again.

At least with Watts you know he ain't going anywhere.

Unless you seriously believe Melbourne is capable of challenging the top 2 or 3 in the league withing 2 years I don't see the use of getting a "quick fix" in Rich. It's clear the club is going to rebuild basically from scratch, and given how far away they are you're better off getting Watts, shelving him for a couple of years then picking up what else you need inbetween. Nick Riewoldt clones don't grow on trees and if you look at the great midfielders of the competition there's a lot more of them taken in the 10-50 bracket than top line forwards

I'm not saying it is a quick fix, I'm saying that the midfield problems need to be addressed before any forward line ones (as bad as the forward line is).

By the way, the go home factor here is huge.

We've already lost a gun midfielder to his home state, I rather it didn't happen again.

At least with Watts you know he ain't going anywhere.

What about Morton?

I'm not saying it is a quick fix, I'm saying that the midfield problems need to be addressed before any forward line ones (as bad as the forward line is).

tbh I don't think your midfield is quite as bad as everyone says (provided everyone is fit).

All it'll take is for one of Buckley, Davey or Maric to have a good game and you've got that little bit of pace (with Bucks and Davey) and class (Maric) to get the ball to your forwards.

And like I said - there's probably going to be a lot more opportunities to find a midfielder in the future

What about Morton?

His parents don't like West Coast!

No one would want to go to Freo.

Morton won't go home.

And like I said - there's probably going to be a lot more opportunities to find a midfielder in the future

With the Gold Coast, not really.

I'd prefer to target key position players with the later picks (second round onwards) if it means Melbourne can get a potential star in the middle. Not the other way around.

His parents don't like West Coast!

No one would want to go to Freo.

Morton won't go home.

Do Rich's parents like West Coast?

Even with the Gold Coast there will still be opportunities to get a brilliant midfielder. Just compare how many 'A' grade midfielders there are with full forwards or centre half forwards

What about Morton?

Both his brothers are in Victoria now. So he's practically a Victorian.

Even with the Gold Coast there will still be opportunities to get a brilliant midfielder. Just compare how many 'A' grade midfielders there are with full forwards or centre half forwards

And how many 'A' grade midfielders do Melbourne have?

Cameron Bruce, although he seems to have dropped off a bit.

Go through each of the clubs lists though:

Geelong - Bartel, Ablett, Corey, Selwood, Ling vs no real dominant forward

Hawthorn - Hodge, Lewis, Bateman, Mitchell vs Buddy and Roughie

Western Bulldogs - Johnson, Cross, Cooney, Griffen vs ?????

St Kilda - Ball, Dal Santo, Hayes vs Riewoldt

Adelaide - Thompson, Edwards, Goodwin, Porplysia vs no decent key forwards

North Melbourne - Harvey is probably their only really good player

Sydney - Kirk, Goodes, McVeigh vs Hall

Collingwood - Didak vs Cloke

I'm not saying it is a quick fix, I'm saying that the midfield problems need to be addressed before any forward line ones (as bad as the forward line is).

Big Key forwards are a bigger problem than the midfield. Besides GOOD Forwards are harder to find than Mids.

Who is Rich going to kick it to for a decade?

Get Watts and build an even hardworking midfield to get the ball to him in a few years time.

Who is Rich going to kick it to for a decade?

Bate, Miller, Newton, Davey, Wonaeamirri, Maric, Sylvia, Robertson, Dunn.

Not the most exciting list, but with the exception of Robertson that is a young group of players who all have talent.

Plus, to be fair it is hard to judge forwards when for the most part no one has been playing in the forward line this year.