Report in today's Hun says ... "Meanwhile, Hawthorn's search for a back-up ruckman will step up next week, with Collingwood discard Chris Bryan and delisted Demon John Meesen set to have medical checks."

Report also confirms we're likely to take Joel Macdonald in the PSD.

With Cloke getting a 3-year offer from port it would not suprise me at all if Meesen got a look from another club. Ruckman are a scarcity in the upcoming draft, and hawthorn could use a ruckman with a ready body. Bryan might get the nod before Meesen, however this could suggest that Messen is the next guy in line for selection. Meesen has the bigger upside and Hawthorn have nothing to lose by selecting either one of these blokes.

I don't rate Cloke above Meesen or Bryan (Cloke has no heart-soft as a pillow) and he is inking a 3 year deal with PA.

Fingers crossed for Meesen that he gets a chance with a contender (also adds to the excitement of adding another young prospect to the rookie list for the dees).

The problem is that Melbourne is very light on for ruckmen. We have only one on our primary list at the moment and that is Mark Jamar, two if you count PJ but I still regard him as a forward who can fill in as a second stringer in the ruck but can't match it with the best. Stef Martin is very much a tall defender who can pinch hit in the ruck while Jake Spencer is still on the rookie list. If someone takes Meesen in the draft we will be left vulnerable. He showed great promise in the few games he played with us so it's no surprise that some clubs are sniffing around.

The problem is that Melbourne is very light on for ruckmen. We have only one on our primary list at the moment and that is Mark Jamar, two if you count PJ but I still regard him as a forward who can fill in as a second stringer in the ruck but can't match it with the best. Stef Martin is very much a tall defender who can pinch hit in the ruck while Jake Spencer is still on the rookie list. If someone takes Meesen in the draft we will be left vulnerable. He showed great promise in the few games he played with us so it's no surprise that some clubs are sniffing around.

What your forgetting is, if we recruit Mc Donald in the PSD (and we will) this frees up Steph Martin to play much more time in the ruck.

Think outside the square!

What your forgetting is, if we recruit Mc Donald in the PSD (and we will) this frees up Steph Martin to play much more time in the ruck.

Think outside the square!

Do you see a 188cm player playing on the same opponents as a 198cm player?

Edited November 20, 200915 yr by Redleg

I get the feeling that my view is not shared by many, but I rate Meesen, and don't rate Spencer. Not saying that Spencer should've been de-listed, but Meesen shouldn't have either. He's 23, so he's still young, and ruckmen take longer to develop anyway because of the body size needed etc., so I feel that an injury-free Meesen could have really come on this season and established himself as an AFL player. Hopefully he gets that chance... I'd like it to be with us...

I get the feeling that my view is not shared by many, but I rate Meesen, and don't rate Spencer. Not saying that Spencer should've been de-listed, but Meesen shouldn't have either. He's 23, so he's still young, and ruckmen take longer to develop anyway because of the body size needed etc., so I feel that an injury-free Meesen could have really come on this season and established himself as an AFL player. Hopefully he gets that chance... I'd like it to be with us...

That's the problem.

You would think the delisting had nothing to do with ability / potential. More the fact he has a major injury concern that with spots on the list so tight that even to put him on the long term injury list was to risky.

Hawks have an immediate need for a ruckman now, I'd be very surprised if they take Meeson.

You would think the delisting had nothing to do with ability / potential. .

What would make you think that? It couldn't be based on what he has shown us in his 2 years at MFC.

I get the feeling that my view is not shared by many, but I rate Meesen, and don't rate Spencer. Not saying that Spencer should've been de-listed, but Meesen shouldn't have either. He's 23, so he's still young, and ruckmen take longer to develop anyway because of the body size needed etc., so I feel that an injury-free Meesen could have really come on this season and established himself as an AFL player. Hopefully he gets that chance... I'd like it to be with us...

I agree, not about Spencer, but Meesen shouldn't of been delisted, he has got a very very big upside. Maybe a injury free year this year could have made all the difference. When he did play he played well. Must be something very wrong for us to de-list him

I agree, not about Spencer, but Meesen shouldn't of been delisted, he has got a very very big upside. Maybe a injury free year this year could have made all the difference. When he did play he played well. Must be something very wrong for us to de-list him

He has stress fractures in his foot. I'de be surprised if any club would be willing to take a punt on a guy that has played a handful of ordinary games and won't be available to play until the middle of the 2010 season. Stranger things have happened though I guess.

I agree, not about Spencer, but Meesen shouldn't of been delisted, he has got a very very big upside. Maybe a injury free year this year could have made all the difference. When he did play he played well. Must be something very wrong for us to de-list him

Even in those good games his work in the ruck was very ordinary... and now he is battling with stress fractures. I think we made a mistake giving him 3 years in the first place. If he comes back to our rookie list he can count himself fortunate that his career is still live. If Hawthorn take Meeson they are taking a huge risk ... good luck to them.

At 19 - with obvious physicality and competitive instincts - Spencer has a big upside and I am pleased we have been able to keep him for a 3rd year on just a rookie's salary. Clearly he has to keeping improving his basic ball skills

Edited November 21, 200915 yr by hoopla

Even in those good games his work in the ruck was very ordinary... and now he is battling with stress fractures. I think we made a mistake giving him 3 years in the first place. If he comes back to our rookie list he can count himself fortunate that his career is still live. If Hawthorn take Meeson they are taking a huge risk ... good luck to them.

At 19 - with obvious physicality and competitive instincts - Spencer has a big upside and I am pleased we have been able to keep him for a 3rd year on just a rookie's salary. Clearly he has to keeping improving his basic ball skills

Meesen does have upside but we never really saw him on the park.

Hawks or anyone else is taking a big risk but the FD has done the right thing. If its meant to be he will still be there as a rookie.

If not we havent really lost anything as we never really had anything....if that makes any sense at all!

Spencer sure does divide opinion on here! IMO he has huge upside but at this point thats all it is - potential.

Give him time we will see. Jury is out on you big Jake time to step up!!

IMO the most value we can get from rucks is around the ground. At stoppages, they just need to do enough to stop the other side running away with it. That's where I think we need Martin to spend more time in the ruck; with his athleticism, he needs to be developed to do the Around-the-ground things (mark kickouts, play a kick behind when it's in our attack etc).

The others may be better than Martin at stoppages, but that's not such a big thing. Even Spencer held his own at stoppages in his 2009 games, but he looked a long way from having what it takes around the ground. So far, all of Meesen, Spencer, PJ and Jamar have shown that they can hold their own at stoppages (so we're better off than quite a few other sides here), but only Jamar looks likely to ever be capable of contributing more around the ground. Meese is probably 4th in line, and if he can get a game at another club (eventually), good luck to him.

I agree, not about Spencer, but Meesen shouldn't of been delisted, he has got a very very big upside. Maybe a injury free year this year could have made all the difference. When he did play he played well. Must be something very wrong for us to de-list him

The only upside Meesen has is based on the fact he was No 6 pick in the 2004 draft (Oops Crows stuffed that one).

When fit Meesen has varied from ordinary in the AFL to embarrassing in the VFL. And that's when he is fit.

If the Hawks are even contemplating beyond the standard Ultra Tune 10 point check on Bryan and Meesen they really must think the days of an effective big man are over.

What your forgetting is, if we recruit Mc Donald in the PSD (and we will) this frees up Steph Martin to play much more time in the ruck.

Think outside the square!

That's definitely outside the square!

McDonald's a flanker, Martin is a KP/second ruck prospect.

Hawthorn are scraping the bottom of the barrel. Can't blame them for doing due diligence I guess, but I don't think there's a surer bet than John Meesen being on our rookie list next year, and Chris Bryan not being on a list at all.

I would be happy for the Hawks to take him and we get a rookie selection.

Edited November 21, 200915 yr by Dee tention

The only upside Meesen has is based on the fact he was No 6 pick in the 2004 draft (Oops Crows stuffed that one).

When fit Meesen has varied from ordinary in the AFL to embarrassing in the VFL. And that's when he is fit.

If the Hawks are even contemplating beyond the standard Ultra Tune 10 point check on Bryan and Meesen they really must think the days of an effective big man are over.

This should be a lesson to all those who think we should take Vardy at 11 or 18...

Ruckman take time and late picks, unless they are exceptional, in the case of a Kreuzer.

Even Leuenberger is fairly decent but has so far not shown quite enough for a pick 4 in my view.

The only upside Meesen has is based on the fact he was No 6 pick in the 2004 draft (Oops Crows stuffed that one).

When fit Meesen has varied from ordinary in the AFL to embarrassing in the VFL. And that's when he is fit.

If the Hawks are even contemplating beyond the standard Ultra Tune 10 point check on Bryan and Meesen they really must think the days of an effective big man are over.

I didn't know he was a #6 pick, interesting fact.

Is there anyone Hawthorn aren't interested in?

Pick 8

Pick 8

I know.

Was highlighting the robot's "fact" to be false.

Maybe he needs a reboot.

Is there anyone Hawthorn aren't interested in?

Thorp.

Even in those good games his work in the ruck was very ordinary... and now he is battling with stress fractures. I think we made a mistake giving him 3 years in the first place. If he comes back to our rookie list he can count himself fortunate that his career is still live. If Hawthorn take Meeson they are taking a huge risk ... good luck to them.

At 19 - with obvious physicality and competitive instincts - Spencer has a big upside and I am pleased we have been able to keep him for a 3rd year on just a rookie's salary. Clearly he has to keeping improving his basic ball skills

He might embarrass you Hoopla. Why don't you help Meesen like you did to Jamar and Sylvia or is it that you only assist the players I do not like. I heard the rumour about you and Brock and why he left.

As mentioned in some of the posts, once Messen is injury free is would be a great player for the side... Just my thoughts.

He might embarrass you Hoopla. Why don't you help Meesen like you did to Jamar and Sylvia or is it that you only assist the players I do not like. I heard the rumour about you and Brock and why he left.

I can say Hoopla has provided a few posts that are actually worth reading.

I can say nothing similar about what you have served up.

Your grinding axe is nauseating.