http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...5018851,00.html

After reading this im not sure I would like to get him here. Alot of North officials are angry that they bent over backwards to get him right and he still leaves them and decides for good measure to give them a spray via his manager Liam Pickering.

Could be bad attitude coupled with being injury prone. Reminds me of Chris Judd turning us down when the facilities weren't good enough.

As I mentioned in the other thread:

Smith is a fantastic player when up and running.

In 2004 he was on the same par as Deledio and Griffen, but alas North Melbourne don't have the medical staff to help him.

Would be worth a shot in the draft - clubs may be put off by his injuries.

If we can establish some confidence about his ankle / hammy problems, I'd prefer to take a punt on Smith ahead of Ball in the PSD .................... but I wouldn't risk a pick on either of them in the ND.

If we can establish some confidence about his ankle / hammy problems, I'd prefer to take a punt on Smith ahead of Ball in the PSD .................... but I wouldn't risk a pick on either of them in the ND.

I don't see a reason why you can't take a risk in Smith in the later stages of the ND (Picks #30+), and this would allow Melbourne to pick up Ball in the PSD.

It's very rare that you will strike something of value in this years draft after Pick #30 (unless you take a punt on an experienced known quantity).

I've heard Hawthorn have Jessie locked in for Pick #38.

Hawthorn would be a good fit for him - his father coaches there, and he would have regular company in the rehab room with Mitch Thorp and Max Bailey

Edited October 10, 200915 yr by Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde

Which draft is he walking into?

If it's the PSD, then he's a great option if Ball resigns with StKilda.

If it's the National draft, then picking him up at pick 34 would be ideal. Jess Smith (rebounding HBF) + Luke Ball + pick 1,2,11,18 would be a fantastic outcome

has played 3 good games in his career. over-rated

Which draft is he walking into?

If it's the PSD, then he's a great option if Ball resigns with StKilda.

If it's the National draft, then picking him up at pick 34 would be ideal. Jess Smith (rebounding HBF) + Luke Ball + pick 1,2,11,18 would be a fantastic outcome

National Draft.

Id take him at pic 34 for sure!

Up until today I would have said 'take him'. But reading the article in the HUN, I'm not so sure anymore. For a guy that's played just 27 games over quite a few years, he seems to demand a lot. And now he's walking out on a club because they don't have the best facilities. Is that the kind of player we want? I'm not sure. He probably wouldn't want to be with us either, considering the reasons he's given for walking on North.

Agree, his body has consistently failed him, - are our facilities any better than Norths? I'd be more interested in Joel McDonald if he goes into the ND and was still available at 34.

No more injury prone players, we are setting ourselves up for disaster. A strong healthy list can take a risk of a Jesse Smith. We don't have that list.

If we make the wrong decisions now injuries could be the difference between winning a flag or not.

Up until today I would have said 'take him'. But reading the article in the HUN, I'm not so sure anymore. For a guy that's played just 27 games over quite a few years, he seems to demand a lot. And now he's walking out on a club because they don't have the best facilities. Is that the kind of player we want? I'm not sure. He probably wouldn't want to be with us either, considering the reasons he's given for walking on North.

Strange. Because the $15million state-of-the-art development & facilities is due for completion soon at Arden St. Everything you'd want in terms of "tools." According to D.McDonald, they've done everything for him incl. liasing with the best medical staff.

Edited October 11, 200915 yr by High Tower

Could be worth a punt at pick 34. Outside the top 20 there are no guarantees anyway, at least we know what we get with Jesse Smith.

Could be worth a punt at pick 34. Outside the top 20 there are no guarantees anyway, at least we know what we get with Jesse Smith.

but you don't, cos his injuries are a huge question mark hanging over his head

I'd be more critical of the manager. Pickering is a [censored] who has a massive hatred for Melbourne. 2 managers that players should stay well away from are Nixon and Pickering they are absolute pigs. Smith won't be going to Melbourne no chance in hell.

Agree, his body has consistently failed him, - are our facilities any better than Norths? I'd be more interested in Joel McDonald if he goes into the ND and was still available at 34.

29 games in 5 years.

No thanks.

I'd be more critical of the manager. Pickering is a [censored] who has a massive hatred for Melbourne. 2 managers that players should stay well away from are Nixon and Pickering they are absolute pigs. Smith won't be going to Melbourne no chance in hell.

Damn you Pickering for not allowing an injury riddled player to come to us.

This bloke is kidding himself!

Blaming facilities for not getting on the park, and continually breaking down.

He better go to the Hawks. I hear they have the best hamstring and ankle repair machines ever!

Nothing more than a story being spun by his manager to try to fool clubs it's not his client who has the problem, but the club.

Don't touch this bloke MFC!

what's funny is, he could end up at a club with worse facillities than what north... us

Jesse obviously has talent, but until he switches on and decides to use it he can have all the excuses under the sun.....

There is no excuse for not working your ar$e off when you are an AFL player!

I haven't seen him play (North Games Don't get me too excited) but if he is an "elite" Talent as the so called Kangaroo experts are saying he may be worth a later draft pick, after of course an extensive Medical.

With 2 games in 2 years he would be a cheap get if ok.

I haven't seen him play (North Games Don't get me too excited) but if he is an "elite" Talent as the so called Kangaroo experts are saying he may be worth a later draft pick, after of course an extensive Medical.

With 2 games in 2 years he would be a cheap get if ok.

Why isn't North keeping him? Hmmmm

If not Ball then Joel McDonald please.

Why isn't North keeping him? Hmmmm

If not Ball then Joel McDonald please.

Going by the article, he walked out. That's a different scenario to north getting rid of him isn't it.

But yes he is no. 3 in the queue for sure.

Why isn't North keeping him? Hmmmm

If not Ball then Joel McDonald please.

I'm getting quietly excited about McDonald.

If the Ball deal falls flat, which let's be honest it very well could, McDonald would be an extremely handy pick up for us.

Why isn't North keeping him? Hmmmm

If not Ball then Joel McDonald please.

North offered him a 2 year incentive based contract.

He obviously didn't think he could achieve the KPI's set out for him.

North offered him a 2 year incentive based contract.

He obviously didn't think he could achieve the KPI's set out for him.

Ping!

And a contract that was much lower than his existing arrangement.

But yes he is no. 3 in the queue for sure.

He is not my queue.