All the hype about the new draftees ,maybe,should equate to the number of games played by new draftees in previous years.

Will this years group equal or surpass the 1999 draft of Green , Wheatley, Whelan and Bruce and them playing finals?

The totals and where we finish at the end of 2009 will be interesting!!

I reckon Bail will play the most out of everyone. Bail & Strauss will feature prominently next year IMO.

I reckon Bail will play the most out of everyone. Bail & Strauss will feature prominently next year IMO.

It will be interestig to see if they total the years and games played fom the 1999 draft.

After a dismal 1999 , Grand final in 2000!!

Strauss is very injured atm, so maybe not as many from him. Jetta will shine

Strauss is very injured atm, so maybe not as many from him. Jetta will shine

What do you mean "Strauss is very injured atm" ?

The minute we start getting smashed and supporters start losing interest and the media starts writing that we should relocate, they'll pull out the big guns and debut Watts... so you know, Watts alone will probably end up play 20 games

Strauss is very injured atm, so maybe not as many from him. Jetta will shine

I thought the only draftee under an injury cloud was Blease

The minute we start getting smashed and supporters start losing interest and the media starts writing that we should relocate, they'll pull out the big guns and debut Watts... so you know, Watts alone will probably end up play 20 games

I agree watts should and most likely will debut R1 even NAB cup.

However due to him finishing his schooling I think 12 games is a more realistic expectation. First few, then a break, a few during the year and a few in a string at the end is my thoughts. only if we get on a wining way early will it be likely that he plays more then a few. (I would love to see him play 20-22 games but doubt this will happen

Bail will play early and exceed expectations.

The minute we start getting smashed and supporters start losing interest and the media starts writing that we should relocate, they'll pull out the big guns and debut Watts... so you know, Watts alone will probably end up play 20 games

Not terribly optimistic of you Jaded...

I don't think we'll see Watts until late next year, if at all. He seems to me to be focused on finishing Year 12, and if Maric is anything to go by, then he might get a game or two towards the end of the year. As for the rest of them, I think Bail and Jetta will play the most games.

I agree watts should and most likely will debut R1 even NAB cup.

I would love to see this, but unfortunately school starts on Jan 30, 2009. Our first game isn't until 21st Feb so I imagine we're probably not going to see him much this year at all. Probably much the same as Maric last year (I think he was in a similar boat and ended up playing the last 3 or so games?)

Not terribly optimistic of you Jaded...

I don't think we'll see Watts until late next year, if at all. He seems to me to be focused on finishing Year 12, and if Maric is anything to go by, then he might get a game or two towards the end of the year. As for the rest of them, I think Bail and Jetta will play the most games.

I think we'll see Watts very early in the campaign. I think our first 5 picks will all have played by the halfway mark of the year.

I don't think we'll see Watts until late next year, if at all. He seems to me to be focused on finishing Year 12, and if Maric is anything to go by, then he might get a game or two towards the end of the year. As for the rest of them, I think Bail and Jetta will play the most games.

Agree.

I think we'll see Watts very early in the campaign. I think our first 5 picks will all have played by the halfway mark of the year.

Disagree.

I don't think we'll see Watts until late next year, if at all. He seems to me to be focused on finishing Year 12, and if Maric is anything to go by, then he might get a game or two towards the end of the year. As for the rest of them, I think Bail and Jetta will play the most games.

I think that is about right.

I think we'll see Watts very early in the campaign. I think our first 5 picks will all have played by the halfway mark of the year.

We would have stacks of injuries for that outcome to happen and we could book an early ticket for the first two picks in the draft.

No thanks.

I think we'll see Watts very early in the campaign. I think our first 5 picks will all have played by the halfway mark of the year.

Disagree.

We would have stacks of injuries for that outcome to happen and we could book an early ticket for the first two picks in the draft.

No thanks.

I'll certainly take your opinions on board, because I can certainly see why you both disagree. But I will stick to my opinion. I can see Watts debuting early in the season despite his year 12 studies. And I'd like to think at some stage in the first half of the season, Strauss, Blease, Jetta & Bennell will have all debuted. I don't think that is unreasonable at all. And I wouldn't mind in the slightest if I was found to be wrong, because I look forward to all their debut's.

I recall tipping Grimes to debut before the '08 season finished too. For the record.

Watts will play before round 5.... bookmark it

Watts will play before round 5.... bookmark it

i shall...and im very interested to see whether he plays that much or not next year because i have copped a lot of criticism during the last three months, in saying that he wont play much at all in 09

then again, i will happily be proven wrong because i would like to see him on the park as much as possible

Bail will play. Won't cement a spot though. The rest will take time, especially Blease & Watts.

Bennell is my pick to debut first though.

In order of most games played:

1: Strauss. Has all the hallmarks, and isn't too small.

2: Bail. Has a bit of weight about him and is a bit more mature presumably... but until I see him play I have my doubts that he'd be as well rounded as Strauss. If Strauss' body holds up, he could play a lot more than people think. James' year will directly effect Rohan's.

3: Watts. I know, I know... he's skinny. I just reckon with his skill, hands, speed and brain he could slot into a number of positions and actually earn his keep. Enough that a debut could turn into three matches... three into five... and so on. I wouldn't say he'd play more than 8 though.

4: Bennell. Anyone's guess from here, but from what I've seen of the kid he has the grunt.

5: Jetta. Just a bit small at this stage. It seems to me his game is a bit reliant on the body-on-body stuff... and in the AFL if he tries that kind of game he'll get demolished.

6: Blease. He's just so small... SO thin. He'd have to dominate at VFL level, and even there he's tiny.

Strauss 8 games

Bail 6 games

Watts 5 games

Jetta 3 games

Bennel 3 games

Blease 1 game

Everyone gets wrapped up in Watts completing school.... Most of the players play TAC, School Football, State Football and go to the AIS when they are completing year 11 or 12 so although the AFL is full time alot of the time is in meeting, public relations etc etc instead of actually training. I would say although AFL is more intense completing in the under age circus before being drafted is more difficult.

Bail 18 games

Strauss 16 games

Watts 8 games

Jetta 4 games

Bennell 4 games

Blease maybe 2 games