Everyone seems so certain the club will take Jack Watts.

No one from the board has confirmed any interest for Watts.

The only thing to have been said is that, the MFC will take the best available player rather than try and pick a player to suit our needs.

Under this criteria, you would suggest we will pick up Rich.

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.

Watts would do more for our forward line than Rich for our midfield.

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

Our I50 stats were deplorable this year, you could just easily say who is going to kick it to Watts for a decade?

We have to get whoever is the best player.

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.

Interesting. You could mount the same case for getting Watts as there seems to be no one putting their hand up forward.

Theoretical solution: - Take Watts. Blood the youngsters again next season, then pick up the best midfielder next draft.

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.

Agree.

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

To me, this list just emphasis how much more important A grade midfielders are to building strong teams than gun forwards. Geelong & WCE are both recent examples of teams that have won premierships without a dominant key forward.

And examples of teams that have won with dominant Key Forwards: -

Brisbane - Brown, Lynch, Bradshaw

Port Adelaide - Tredrea

Sydney - Hall, O'Loughlin

Essendon - Lloyd, Lucas

Kangaroos - Carey, Longmire

Carlton - Kernahan

West Coast - Sumich, Langdon

Hawthorn - Dunstall, Brereton

To me, this list just emphasis how much more important A grade midfielders are to building strong teams than gun forwards. Geelong & WCE are both recent examples of teams that have won premierships without a dominant key forward.

Or that midfielders are easier to come by

And examples of teams that have won with dominant Key Forwards: -

Brisbane - Brown, Lynch, Bradshaw

Port Adelaide - Tredrea

Sydney - Hall, O'Loughlin

Essendon - Lloyd, Lucas

Kangaroos - Carey, Longmire

Carlton - Kernahan

West Coast - Sumich, Langdon

Hawthorn - Dunstall, Brereton

Let's at least keep it relevant, Kernahan & Dunstall is a bit pre-historic! I'm talking modern footy, hence the Cats & WCE examples - 2 of the last 3 premiership winners.

Im certainly not saying dominant monster forwards arent helpful, its proven that you can win without them though. There's 25 odd midfielders on that list, the dominant teams with 3 > 5 each, at best McLean might be at there level, to me that says our midfield requires at least as much attention as anywhere else.

Or that midfielders are easier to come by

The majority of draftees are mids, the majority of a clubs list is mids, the majority of a teams squad each week is mids, of course there are more of them.

Let's at least keep it relevant, Kernahan & Dunstall is a bit pre-historic! I'm talking modern footy, hence the Cats & WCE examples - 2 of the last 3 premiership winners.

Im certainly not saying dominant monster forwards arent helpful, its proven that you can win without them though. There's 25 odd midfielders on that list, the dominant teams with 3 > 5 each, at best McLean might be at there level, to me that says our midfield requires at least as much attention as anywhere else.

Geez. I must be getting old then. Pre-historic?! Is Carey? He played in the Kernahan, Dunstall era's. FFS.

The majority of draftees are mids, the majority of a clubs list is mids, the majority of a teams squad each week is mids, of course there are more of them.

Precisely.

So if 1 in 10 midfielders are guns then you're more likely to pick one out then the 1 in 10 key forwards

The only good thing about Rich is his use of the footy- he ain't quick though, and unfortunately, i think its out of Watss and Niknat.

we deeeeesperately need pace. Buckley can't do it on his own

From everything I've read, Rich sounds an awful lot like a former no. 1 pick who we recently traded away- supposed elite kicking skills, unable to shake a hard tag, doesn't accumulate a great number of possessions, questionable work ethic and known to show a complete lack of interest at times... but on his day could be one of the most damaging players in the game.

Whilst drafting players with elite kicking skills should high on our priority list, I'm not sure if we should be going for another highly talented yet inconsistent mid...

I think the Rich kid is the go! He is the best available and we need a gun midfielder. Use picks 17 and 19 on key position or other midfielders. Warnock will be coming to us hopefully. Possibly trade for a couple of forwards. McKinley (West Coast) and Ryan Murphy (Fremantle) are possibilities. Almost everybody is trade bait. Bailey knows who can cut his game plan and who cant. PJ certainly can. Killed them this year. Brock for Captain! The only one who has balls of leadership.

mortons parents are moving to melbourne now aswell so there is zero go home factor in his case at all

From everything I've read, Rich sounds an awful lot like a former no. 1 pick who we recently traded away- supposed elite kicking skills, unable to shake a hard tag, doesn't accumulate a great number of possessions, questionable work ethic and known to show a complete lack of interest at times... but on his day could be one of the most damaging players in the game.

Whilst drafting players with elite kicking skills should high on our priority list, I'm not sure if we should be going for another highly talented yet inconsistent mid...

Plus, there is the ruckman (Ottens) and the tall forward (Croad).

geez i'd love McKinley- hopefully via trade cos i think he resigned for 2 with the eagles when wecould secure a deal last trade week

i reckon we could even schnag a deal with freo like our pick in the 50's for robbie warnock..cos we'd just say, well, its either that or we'll take him psd #1 and you get nothing cos he wants to come to us (if he does)..so then they;d take the pick 50 deal. It's happened a few times with clubs that have the bargaining power with # 1 psd pick

And examples of teams that have won with dominant Key Forwards: -

Brisbane - Brown, Lynch, Bradshaw

Port Adelaide - Tredrea

Sydney - Hall, O'Loughlin

Essendon - Lloyd, Lucas

Kangaroos - Carey, Longmire

Carlton - Kernahan

West Coast - Sumich, Langdon

Hawthorn - Dunstall, Brereton

Brisbane - Brown, Lynch, Bradshaw---Fed by - Voss, Black, Lappin, Power, Scotts, etc

Port Adelaide - Tredrea ----------Fed by - Burgoynes, Carr,

Sydney - Hall, O'Loughlin --------Fed by - Kirk, Williams, Goodes, O'Keefe, etc

Essendon - Lloyd, Lucas ----------Fed by - Hird, Williams, Watson, Long,

Kangaroos - Carey, Longmire ---Fed by - Grant, Harvey, Stephens, etc

Carlton - Kernahan ---------------Fed by - Williams, Ratten, Bradley, Rhys-Jones, etc

West Coast - Sumich, Langdon --Fed by - Mainwarring, Worsfold, Matera,

Hawthorn - Dunstall, Brereton ---Fed by - Platten, Buckenara, Green, Dipper, Wallace,

Precisely

So if 1 in 10 midfielders are guns then you're more likely to pick one out then the 1 in 10 key forwards

Never said anything of the sort. If a team is going to pick up 4 mids and 1 key forward of course there is a greater likelihood they'll get a gun mid to a gun key forward, their is 4 more of them so the chances of that happening are increased by 4!

Dominant teams have 3 > 5 top shelf mids and then a whole lot more serviceable mids to rotate through and only 1-2 big bodied forwards. Yes its easier to find gun midfielders - you also need four, five or six times as many midfielders in your team each week as you do big bodied forwards.

You need to find a Judd, a Cousins & a Kerr or a Ablett, a Bartel & a Chapman yet you only need 1 key forward and it can be someone as average as a Q Lynch or Mooney.

Brisbane - Brown, Lynch, Bradshaw---Fed by - Voss, Black, Lappin, Power, Scotts, etc

Port Adelaide - Tredrea ----------Fed by - Burgoynes, Carr,

Sydney - Hall, O'Loughlin --------Fed by - Kirk, Williams, Goodes, O'Keefe, etc

Essendon - Lloyd, Lucas ----------Fed by - Hird, Williams, Watson, Long,

Kangaroos - Carey, Longmire ---Fed by - Grant, Harvey, Stephens, etc

Carlton - Kernahan ---------------Fed by - Williams, Ratten, Bradley, Rhys-Jones, etc

West Coast - Sumich, Langdon --Fed by - Mainwarring, Worsfold, Matera,

Hawthorn - Dunstall, Brereton ---Fed by - Platten, Buckenara, Green, Dipper, Wallace,

P.S.

You forgot: -

1/ Brisbane - Akermanis

3/ Sydney - O'Keefe is a key forward

4/ Watson did not play with Lucas & Lloyd

5/ Kangaroos - Schwass

7/ West Coast - Kemp, Banfield - I doubt Worsfold fed Sumich.....maybe at breakfast!

8/ Hawthorn - D.Jarman, Ayres

P.S.

You forgot: -

1/ Brisbane - Akermanis

3/ Sydney - O'Keefe is a key forward

4/ Watson did not play with Lucas & Lloyd

5/ Kangaroos - Schwass

7/ West Coast - Kemp, Banfield - I doubt Worsfold fed Sumich.....maybe at breakfast!

8/ Hawthorn - D.Jarman, Ayres

Thanks for the correction, Okeefe is a roaming forward who pushing high into the midfield & does most damage beyond half forward winning the ball & delivering to the forwards.

From watching the u18 Champianships there will be depth in both midfielders and KPP. The importance of the KPP is well know if you compare two clubs that rebuilt around the same time Richmond and Hawthorn. Richmond used early picks for midfielders and the Hawks picked up Key forwards, I know which list I would have. IMO I would use pick 1 and 17 for the best key forwards available then pick 19 and our late picks for midfielders. We do need both but we are in greater need for key forwards.

The importance of the KPP is well know if you compare two clubs that rebuilt around the same time Richmond and Hawthorn. Richmond used early picks for midfielders and the Hawks picked up Key forwards, I know which list I would have.

I might challenge this concept, but I'll do a bit of research and get back to you.

with pick #17 I am thinking someone like lewis johnston would be awesome but i think he'll get picked up pretty early.

Thanks for the correction, Okeefe is a roaming forward who pushing high into the midfield & does most damage beyond half forward winning the ball & delivering to the forwards.

I'll allow a little latitude with O'Keefe. Key forward/Roaming forward. Cosi Cosi.