When you analyse our list, i think our KP stocks aren't really that thin, and I think the coaching staff was wise to invest in the midfield.

Does anyone agree?

I don't.

Four of the five KPDs you listed are in our best team (the other is McNamara). I think they're a good bunch but that doesn't leave much room for error - two of these have a history of injury problems.

Five of the six KPFs you listed are in our best team (the other is Fitzpatrick). I'll concede Watts, despite him showing little at AFL level so far - it's fair enough to bank a #1 draft pick as at least a serviceable option IMO - but Morton's no certainty to play a KPF role, and neither is Martin.

That leaves two kids who were late picks (McNamara and Fitzpatrick) as our only KP depth on the primary list, leaving aside Miller (who could replace Morton on the list of KPFs, and won't be around after 2010 if the consensus view is correct). The only KP rookie we're likely to be 'developing' next year is Newton (who also won't be around after 2010 if the consensus view is correct).

You're banking on virtually all our KP players being fit and in form for each game, otherwise we need to change our structure to deal with it. What happens if one or more of our KP options fail to make the grade, acquire a serious injury or walk out? Doesn't that suggest our KP stocks are thin?

A more likely explanation for our draft selections is simply that at 1, 2, 11 and 18 there were no KPPs worthy of the pick. Occam's razor.

A more likely explanation for our draft selections is simply that at 1, 2, 11 and 18 there were no KPPs worthy of the pick. Occam's razor.

I reckon that's it in a nutshell.

The reason we invested in our midfield!, is, we all overestimated our existing midfield setup.

It's obvious now, after they went for 4 mids, then a ruck & a forward/follower.

We have been quite a way off having a dominant midfield zone.

Bate/Dunn/Bell/Bartram/PJ/Meeson, all NQR mids. Some have other skills like Bates forward play, but he's no dominant midfielder.

I'm warming to the footy dept's able plans & starting to believe there on the right track.

Bate/Dunn/Bell/Bartram/PJ/Meeson, all NQR mids.

None of those are mids and none would play midfield in our best 22. However even with our best 22, our midfield in 2009 was third world and besides a couple of promising youngsters lacked real class, clearance ability, pace and good ball usage. All four mids chosen as best available go all along way to addressing that in the coming year.

Great teams are teams that are full of footballing ability as well as having members in them that are willing to sacrifice a part of their game & sometimes their body for the greater good of the team. Selfless acts etc.

If Miller was so essential to the teams well being they would have offered him a more secure contract than a one year extension. I think we all know he has a spot on the list until a better option arises, that's the nature of professional sport.

Miller may have been offered more than 1 year, but turned it down like Jamar.

Miller may have been offered more than 1 year, but turned it down like Jamar.

When did Jamar get offered two years?

I like this post, even if its slightly through rose-coloured glasses. I'm surprised that Mckenzie has already made it to your premiership midfield group though...

When did Jamar get offered two years?

Whoever said he didn't..?

Whoever said he didn't..?

Jamar & Miller one year contract extensions

I don't see a mention of two years anywhere here.........

None of those are mids and none would play midfield in our best 22. However even with our best 22, our midfield in 2009 was third world and besides a couple of promising youngsters lacked real class, clearance ability, pace and good ball usage. All four mids chosen as best available go all along way to addressing that in the coming year.

I've just got back in.

Thats exactly what I was alluding to. None of those players who play through the midfield zone are anywhere near good enough.

So of the other mids we've been playing, Jones/Moloney/McDonald/Green/Bruce/Morton/ Davey/Sylvia, which ones will become a part of our next elite midfield group?

Back on topic slightly, I agree with the original post... It was noted that this draft wasn't that strong for talls... Talia, from the one youtube video I've seen of him, reminded me of Lynden Dunn to be honest... Didn't seem like he'd be a genuine KPP tall... A little taller than Dunn, yes... But he seemed to play in a very similar style... I actually rate Lynden, and he's a solid player from a very poor draft, perhaps Talia could turn out to be the same... We will wait and see...

Back on topic slightly, I agree with the original post... It was noted that this draft wasn't that strong for talls... Talia, from the one youtube video I've seen of him, reminded me of Lynden Dunn to be honest... Didn't seem like he'd be a genuine KPP tall... A little taller than Dunn, yes... But he seemed to play in a very similar style... I actually rate Lynden, and he's a solid player from a very poor draft, perhaps Talia could turn out to be the same... We will wait and see...

Does Morton strike you as a tall key forward?

The fact that even Carlton passed on the key position prospects indicates that BP was not alone in his assessment of the talent on offer.

So of the other mids we've been playing, Jones/Moloney/McDonald/Green/Bruce/Morton/ Davey/Sylvia, which ones will become a part of our next elite midfield group?

Davey/Sylvia and Morton.

Hence the problem with the 2009 midfield (with McLean)

Anyone else catch Emma Quayle's little comment that following this and the last few drafts 'the Demons will have the best midfield in the competition by a mile'.

We had a chance to pretty much ensure we were going to be 'in charge' of at least one part of the ground, with a long list of midfield rotations at very high quality.

Several of these (Trengove, Sylvia, Tapscott, Morton etc..) also can contribute well to the scoreboard.

Throw in a range of solid and possibly exceptional defensive talls, a couple of potential star quality forwards, and some new 200cm+ players to keep trying to make something reliable of the ruck, and it's looking pretty good.

The fact that even Carlton passed on the key position prospects indicates that BP was not alone in his assessment of the talent on offer.

Correct.

Anyone else catch Emma Quayle's little comment that following this and the last few drafts 'the Demons will have the best midfield in the competition by a mile'.

We had a chance to pretty much ensure we were going to be 'in charge' of at least one part of the ground, with a long list of midfield rotations at very high quality.

Several of these (Trengove, Sylvia, Tapscott, Morton etc..) also can contribute well to the scoreboard.

Throw in a range of solid and possibly exceptional defensive talls, a couple of potential star quality forwards, and some new 200cm+ players to keep trying to make something reliable of the ruck, and it's looking pretty good.

There seems to be a lot of hype about Emma Quayle's opinion on this and that and I'm sure she is pretty well informed.

I would however put more weight to the opinions of coaches ,recruiting officers and ex players than to those of journalists that have unlikley played or coached the game. Male or female.

There seems to be a lot of hype about Emma Quayle's opinion on this and that and I'm sure she is pretty well informed.

I would however put more weight to the opinions of coaches ,recruiting officers and ex players than to those of journalists that have unlikley played or coached the game. Male or female.

And how much real info do coaches and recruiting officers give away? Very little. And an ex player may be further distant from the action than a journalist.

I think the concerns about the forward line are a little exaggerated. Watts as Maloney said wuill be the new David Neitz/Buddy Franklin and at last we will have a target up forward again. Jarrah will play in my opinion more a roaming forward role. He is an incredible mark for his size, is quite quick, but also he does the team things really well at both hand and foot and is a fantastic accurate kick on the run. In that position rotating onto the flank and CHF and FP. He is a very very difficult player to match up on him simply because he has unique skills and in my view those skills would not neccessarily be made the most of in a permanent key position. I think Martin will play the second tall and Bate the third. Bate by the way is taller than he looks (about 192cm from memory), is a strong mark and excellent kick - in other words a great prospect as a leading Forward pocket player or even CHF.

I can't think of any other team (with the possible exception of the cats) who have this sort of combination up-forward

And how much real info do coaches and recruiting officers give away? Very little. And an ex player may be further distant from the action than a journalist.

I'd expect an ex-player / coach / anyone affiliated with a club to be more biased.

And a lot of the media who were formerly players or coaches are often ridiculed because of their opinions.

I wouldn't value one more than the other.

There seems to be a lot of hype about Emma Quayle's opinion on this and that and I'm sure she is pretty well informed.

I would however put more weight to the opinions of coaches ,recruiting officers and ex players than to those of journalists that have unlikley played or coached the game. Male or female.

Playing the game doesn't mean you're very good at spotting talent.

Coaches don't have time to get up to speed with all the draftees, and recruiting officers a) are a major source of info for journalists like Quayle and B) aren't going to tell you much.

There seems to be a lot of hype about Emma Quayle's opinion on this and that and I'm sure she is pretty well informed.

I would however put more weight to the opinions of coaches ,recruiting officers and ex players than to those of journalists that have unlikley played or coached the game. Male or female.

Murderers make the best judges too.

Murderers make the best judges too.

Whether male or female.

You don't need to be a chicken to know a rotten egg.

The fact that even Carlton passed on the key position prospects indicates that BP was not alone in his assessment of the talent on offer.

Yeah, there's no point in taking a KPP just for the sake of it. When you have a look and the kind of KPP that have been taken from 6-25 in recent years you'll notice that the failure rate is pretty damn high (I'll ignore last 3 years because they haven't had time to develop yet. I've also bolded the KP forwards):

2006:

#6 - Mitch Thorp (Haw)

#8 - Ben Reid (Coll)

#10 - Nathan Brown (Coll)

#11 - Andrejs Everitt (WB)

#24 - Brent Renouf (Haw)

2005:

#6 - Beau Dowler (Haw)

#7 - Patrick Ryder (Ess)

#18 - Max Bailey (Haw)

#24 - Cleve Hughes (Rich)

2004:

#6 - Tom Williams (WB)

#8 - John Meesen (Adel)

#16 - Adam Pattison (Rich)

#17 - Cameron Wood (Bris)

#19 - Ryan Willits (PA)

#23 - Sean Rusling (Coll)

2003:

#6 - Kepler Bradley (Ess)

#12 - Ryan Murphy (Frem)

#14 - Fergus Watts (Adel)

#17 - Billy Morrison (Coll)

#18 - Llane Spaanderman (Bris)

#24 - Chad Jones (NM)

2002:

#9 - Hamish McIntosh (NM)

#10 - Jason Laycock (Ess)

#12 - Jay Schulz (Rich)

#15 - Nicholas Smith (Melb)

#20 - Will Minson (WB)

#21 - Bo Nixon (Coll)

#23 - Tom Lonergan (Geel)

#24 - Paul Johnson (WC)

Not too many world-beaters there, particularly with regards to KP forwards - doesn't bode well for Butcher, Talia or Black. So best to go for best available early in the draft, imho. You can draft for specific needs with later picks.