A question for us to consider is if Joel MacDonald would be a good option for us if Ball deal falls over?

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=86144

Strong rebounding defender. Although our defence is already looking good, he would be able to rotate with Grimes through midfield and would give us a strong body with good run and carry.

Thoughts?

I myself would prefer Bradshaw as a first preference ahead of Luke ball, then some other option.

If we miss out on any 'A' graders then I'd rather look for another youthfull surprise packet like we did with the Walpirri Warrior.

Strauss will bet better than Mcdonald ever will, i say go for a kid

but if they choose McDonald ....

Martin and Jurrah last two PSD picks I trust the footy dept

Strauss will bet better than Mcdonald ever will, i say go for a kid

but if they choose McDonald ....

Martin and Jurrah last two PSD picks I trust the footy dept

It has been said that his disposal is a bit iffy but he seems to be a bit of a goer and is probably less a fitness risk than Ball. He wouldn't come with as high a price tag as Ball so there might be a case made that would allow us to pick up two recycled players with AFL experience - one with a late ND pick and another in the PSD.

I'd be surprised if we did look at Joel. He could have been picked up very cheaply in trade week, I think if the Ball deal falls through it might be a better option to use pick 34 in the nd.

If we want a good kid then we use pick 34 or pick 50 instead.

I myself would prefer Bradshaw as a first preference

I think you and I are the only people on this board who want Bradshaw at the MFC. I feel he strongly addresses a need for the club - and that is to kick goals.

I think you and I are the only people on this board who want Bradshaw at the MFC. I feel he strongly addresses a need for the club - and that is to kick goals.

i want bradshaw at the demons

i want bradshaw at the demons

hes training with the swans...

doubt hes coming much further south

hes training with the swans...

doubt hes coming much further south

woops my bad

hes training with the swans...

doubt hes coming much further south

He'll go to whoever drafts him...

He'll go to whoever drafts him...

And it will not be melbourne

I think you and I are the only people on this board who want Bradshaw at the MFC. I feel he strongly addresses a need for the club - and that is to kick goals.

Yep, If we got to spend the salary cap money I'd rather Bradshaw. I just don't understand what all the fuss is about Ball, mind you, I have stopped watching the opposition teams closely over the last few (5 or so) seasons out of a loss of interest since IMO we've been pretenders, (read since 2004/5).

This is now the first time I feel a sense of hope that we can build a Real Team capable of going to top 4 (2012/13) & hopefully on from there.

Bradshaw, may cause problems with position availability with him & Miller there, & Bate, Jurrah, Watts. It changes the balance & mix, & also if we can play a Ruck on the Fullforward line.

I think he would bring a lot of winning experience & of course premiership ways to the team that wins him.

This is neither a critique nor endorsement for Joel MacDonald although I think there could be worse players to pick in the PSD.

I just thought I would put up the figures for the height of our defence and see where MacDonald compares. Going by the numbers I think MacDonald may be able to find a niche in our defence or at least be handy for depth and match ups with his height. Having said that I don't wish to trivialise the whole thing because it comes down to how good a defender you are and the team's needs but McDonald has always seemed reasonably solid and having just turned 25 ideally still has a fair bit of footy ahead of him.

Using rpfc's defensive 7 purely as a guide I have bolded those players and then our other defensive options have been added as well as MacDonald. In the case of certain players I have commented if they have other possible positions they may also play (over time in the case of the younger ones) and have noted those players who are not necessarily long term options. Compared to the defenders most expected to be exclusive to the back 6, there seems to be a noticable gap where McDonald could be handy as an experienced backman. Like I said there will be a few options in the PSD for the club so I am not putting MacDonald up above anyone else (Thorp could be handy or we could stick with the ND), just thought the numbers were interesting.

Thoughts?

__________________________

Bennell 179 Midfield rotation

McDonald 180 Midfield rotation/last year

Bartram 181 No Certainty

Cheney 184 No Certainty

Strauss 185 Midfield rotation

Bell 186 No Certainty

Grimes 187 Midfield rotation - possibly exclusive mid over time

MacDonald 187

Bruce 190 Veteran

McNamara 190

Garland 191

Rivers 192

Warnock 192

Frawley 193

Martin 198 Ruck/utility

Everybody who wants to get Luke Ball and possibly use Pick 18 to get him need to get off the dope.

He does'nt want to play for us. So why even waste your time talking about him anymore. The Ball is not in our court!

Does anybody know if MacDonald has nominated for the national draft?

Does anyone know if he is training anywhere?

Does anybody know if MacDonald has nominated for the national draft?

If he was 22 (as reported in error somewhere) I'd look hard at him. But at 25 not sure that he has sufficient upside to warrant a spot.

1858's analysis tends to confirm that he is not really the type of player we need, particularly when you add to his list names like Green and Morton - and bear in mind that Davey and perhaps Blease may spend time as running defenders.

I don't understand why some are still throwing Bradshaw's name around.......

Here was me thinking MacDonald was 186cm vs your

Bell 186 No Certainty

One is a player who played home/away 22 games for a side that made the finals ... the other couldn't get a game due to injury in a side that finished 16th

One is DOB = 10 Oct 1984 the others DOB = 13 Apr 1985 ....

Do you want to pick the youngest or the one with the most ability?

Do we need more young players on our list?

Edited November 10, 200915 yr by hangon007