Thoughts?

Unless a jurrah pops up again, i hope get either him or ball.

Ball > Smith

Jesse Smith and Joel McDonald are both atttractive PSD options bc they both fill a need.

We need rebounding running defenders who also have a defensive side to their game. That would perfectly completement our Key position defenders.

Strauss, Bennel and Grimes are currently playing that role, but I feel all 3 are better suited to midfield roles.

The number one option should still be Luke Ball bc he is a quality player with experience, and only 25 yrs old.

People keep stating we won't be premiership chances for 5-6 years... however with the addition of a few quality players we could half that time to 2-3 years. In 3 years time I see no reason why we can't be up there and players like Luke Ball would quicken the development process

Thoughts?

It would be like drafting Mark Coughlan NO WAY !!

Smith maybe, more injury prone than Rivers so I would be worried about him. McDonald got smashed by Miller last year so my opinion of him is quite low so I wouldn't worry about him.

i hope get either him or ball.

Smith did 3-4 medicals for different clubs and apparently failed the Pies medical. (mind you, Stevie J failed one too)

I like Jesse Smith. Looked very sharp in 07. Big punt on a 50y.o ankle but could pay off big time. His ceiling is higher then Ball's.

Maybe Ball only needs to tape up his abdominals and we can get him out there.

Smith did 3-4 medicals for different clubs and apparently failed the Pies medical. (mind you, Stevie J failed one too)

I like Jesse Smith. Looked very sharp in 07. Big punt on a 50y.o ankle but could pay off big time. His ceiling is higher then Ball's.

Maybe Ball only needs to tape up his abdominals and we can get him out there.

He played a number of really good games at the beginning of this season as well.....

But it will come down to the risk of injury, I guess.

Ball and Smith are kind of in the same boat. Both could just nominate for the draft regularly, and we'd have little chance of snaffling them.

Medical checks aside, I'd be happy with either. I have always thought of the PSD pick as kind of fools gold, especially in the current market such as it is. In a regular season, perhaps you pick up someone worth having, but usually if a player leaves a club or is pushed, there's a reason.

Jurrah and Martin are exceptional PSD picks IMO. I'll be happy if we get another good player, but I won't hang myself if we don't.

Jurrah and Martin are exceptional PSD picks IMO.

Jurrah is an obvious one.

Please explain was Martin was an exceptional pick?

Exceptional is such a strong word?

I would rather take a punt on a kid than take smith. North have been beating his drum for years but the poor fellow just cant stay on the park. Macdonald i would consider. He can play back or in the middle and he is not a bad size. He had a really good year in 08 playing in the middle but was moved into the backline by voss and struggled a fair bit in the first half of the year to make any impact. Finished off the year alot better.

Is smith really an upgrade on what we already have? He might turn out to be a gun, but I am less than convinced and prefer not to take on fringe players with an injury riddled past.

Buckley, bartram and part of the "possible delistings co" carry less risk than smith. he ghosts you know Vs the ghosts you don't now.

Pass for me.

Jurrah is an obvious one.

Please explain was Martin was an exceptional pick?

Exceptional is such a strong word?

That's a good point. But I rate him highly. And if you think about it, Martin is really just another draftee in the big draft. Effectively like making him pick 70 or whatever. The fact he's shown a bit at that pick is what's exceptional. Jurrah is MORE exceptional, I'll give you that, since he was in the same boat.

I'd rather take an injury prone player who has done something and is otherwise a gun than an injury prone player who has done nothing and only shown potential.

I'd take one of Ball, Joel McDonald or Jesse Smith - whoever is available in the PSD.

All capable players, and would actually make it worthwhile having the first pick in the PSD.

Is smith really an upgrade on what we already have? He might turn out to be a gun, but I am less than convinced and prefer not to take on fringe players with an injury riddled past.

Buckley, bartram and part of the "possible delistings co" carry less risk than smith. he ghosts you know Vs the ghosts you don't now.

Pass for me.

J. Smith is in no way a fringe player

J. Smith is in no way a fringe player

agreed, without injuries j smith is a gun, just watch the game against the hawks in one of the 07 finals, BOG.

I'd take one of Ball, Joel McDonald or Jesse Smith - whoever is available in the PSD.

All capable players, and would actually make it worthwhile having the first pick in the PSD.

I tell you what, I think after the last 2 years of seeing nothing worthwhile in the PSD, I'm not sure I know what to do with myself. That's 3 names more than in BOTH of the last 2 seasons (not including Cousins)...

For my part, I just reckon late picks and PSD picks are pretty much always speculation. Even when it's a star on offer, they're there for a reason. So I'm not fussed who we take really, so long as we use the pick.

I AM happy though that it looks like a mature player we'll get. I want to see some food on my plate in 2009. Not much food. Maybe just a sausage, or a muffin or something...

luke ball is an all-australian and captain at 21. he has performed well in a grand final and his courage is never doubted. Jesse smith has played about 3 good games. You can't compare them. Ball for sure

isn't ball pretty much another Mclean though? both slow inside mids? prefer Smith, he has a far greater upside to him if he can get his body right

luke ball is an all-australian and captain at 21. he has performed well in a grand final and his courage is never doubted. Jesse smith has played about 3 good games. You can't compare them. Ball for sure

They ca, and they should. And they WILL.

One big issue is age. Even in Ball comes in and plays 3 sensational years, and gets a couple of Blueys, by the time we look like threatening again his body could REALLY have let him down. In other words, he could get us there (to finals) but may not be able to make a difference on the day, should it be 4-6 years away as some have suggested.

That'll be a big factor I reckon.

They ca, and they should. And they WILL.

One big issue is age. Even in Ball comes in and plays 3 sensational years, and gets a couple of Blueys, by the time we look like threatening again his body could REALLY have let him down. In other words, he could get us there (to finals) but may not be able to make a difference on the day, should it be 4-6 years away as some have suggested.

That'll be a big factor I reckon.

I think taking a player to get us there isn't the worst idea though. Aaron Hamill and Rob Harvey aren't at the saints any more, but I think they really helped get them in the right direction. Ball could do similar for us. Medicals will be so important for both Smith and Ball. Playing on the lush surface of the MCG should be good for both of them!

They ca, and they should. And they WILL.

One big issue is age. Even in Ball comes in and plays 3 sensational years, and gets a couple of Blueys, by the time we look like threatening again his body could REALLY have let him down. In other words, he could get us there (to finals) but may not be able to make a difference on the day, should it be 4-6 years away as some have suggested.

That'll be a big factor I reckon.

true, but he could play a critical role in the journey. teaching and helping scully and trengove so that when we are ready they will be key factors.

yes we are rebuilding but you cant have everyone the same age. that is pointless. you only need to look at an ageing shane crawford to see that a 30+ has a role on GF day as long as they are in the right team.

if ball comes in and has 3 fantastic years, this footy club will improve significantly.

I think taking a player to get us there isn't the worst idea though. Aaron Hamill and Rob Harvey aren't at the saints any more, but I think they really helped get them in the right direction. Ball could do similar for us. Medicals will be so important for both Smith and Ball. Playing on the lush surface of the MCG should be good for both of them!

I think you are right there playing at the Dome is not good for the body and even though they have improved it I think you would be better off at the G. The issue that I have is does Ball want to play for us, if he doesn't I don't want him there I would rather have Dylan Grimes than a reluctant recruit.

I really like Jessie Smith .. i thought prior to the 2004 Draft that he was 3rd best in the pool after Deledio and Griffen.

His manager has mentioned in the media that he is after a club with a superior medical set up to that of North Melbourne (as if that would be hard lol).

He is a walking injury though but I think on ability and talent he is by far the best at the Roos and he is at least equal to Brendan Goddard ... pretty big call, I know lol.