http://www.melbournefc.com.au/tabid/7415/default.aspx?newsid=97169

A good read by BP.

The reference to Gawn and Fitzy and where particular clubs rate a certain pick that may slip through. Also interesting to read how he sees GC approaching the draft and mentions they have already committed to David Swallow (brother of Norths Andrew) and a guy by the name of Harley Bennell...is he a relation to our Jimmy Bennell?

I heard how GC didn't want to have Swallow and Matera play Under 18's football. What would these kids do for a year if no football? Interesting.

GC hasn't committed to Harley Bennell yet, but there's no doubt they'll take him - perhaps as one of their first three picks. FWIW, Bennell is the cousin of Jamie and the younger brother of Johnny, who was rookie listed at Collingwood for a year.

And I don't understand what are you getting at with Swallow and Matera. Although he was bottom-aged, Swallow had finished school at the end of '09 so he was just going to be kicking around Perth working and playing club footy this year. Why not get him up to the Gold Coast and play VFL footy for a year to prepare for AFL life? I'm unsure whether Matera is in the same boat with regard to his schooling but I presume that would be the case.

GC hasn't committed to Harley Bennell yet, but there's no doubt they'll take him - perhaps as one of their first three picks. FWIW, Bennell is the cousin of Jamie and the younger brother of Johnny, who was rookie listed at Collingwood for a year.

And I don't understand what are you getting at with Swallow and Matera. Although he was bottom-aged, Swallow had finished school at the end of '09 so he was just going to be kicking around Perth working and playing club footy this year. Why not get him up to the Gold Coast and play VFL footy for a year to prepare for AFL life? I'm unsure whether Matera is in the same boat with regard to his schooling but I presume that would be the case.

Mikey, cheers for clearing that up. I heard about the Swallow/Matera issue and not allowing them to play U 18's...it wasn't much so you have probably closed the loop on some of the info I missed hearing.

Makes good sense that they get involved with GC into the VFL. No problem.

Yeah, it's all a bit weird with GC and the way they're putting together their list. It will be interesting to see if the hype about this draft rises as we get closer to November, or whether GC's monopoly on the draft has effectively killed all interest.

Will also be interesting to see how a team filled with high-end draft picks plays together.

Just hope Melbourne are one of those clubs who picks "talls"....

Just hope Melbourne are one of those clubs who picks "talls"....

Would much prefer best available player, if it happens to be a tall great, but always best available with relatively low picks

Kevin Sheehan had Jack Darling going to us at pick 10.

where did you find that at

source

Just hope Melbourne are one of those clubs who picks "talls"....

Great

Just what we need

The reincarnation of Peter Street

where did you find that at

source

On Fox Sports this afternoon..

Based on where the bottom 6 clubs sit on the ladder currently, he just did a quick prediction and had Darling slide to us at pick 10. Nothing much really but a lot of people on BF saying he could go top 3 or slide ala Butcher last year.

Jack Darling certainly looks a likely type...not seen much this year so far but enough on You Tube from last years champs. He is amazingly quick off the mark and even last year at the bottom age group of U 18's had good size about him so would expect that he has grown a bit more from there.

Our first pick could still be as far off as Pick 12 and by the looks of him I am not sure he would slide that far. I would find it hard that GC would pass him up because it seems they are going to have plenty of midfield types, even including current players they may poach and will need some Key forwards.

Would be great if he slides as I think we have enough midfield options going forward....Blease/Strauss still not really seen etc etc.

Maybe we could tank to position ourselves better!!

Not sure that we'd pick Darling.

There are whispers of character issues and we hold this area in high esteem.

There was that incident with him getting expelled from school...

Yeah heard about his 'sex romp' wasn't it? Hey is from WA and they do things a bit different in the Wild Wild West.

Still, he was only 16 wasn't he....this can be soon knocked out of him. Long way away from any of this coming together anyhow.

Not sure that we'd pick Darling.

There are whispers of character issues and we hold this area in high esteem.

There was that incident with him getting expelled from school...

In every successful team , there seems to be a player that will give you a smack in the mouth,Darling is one(a protector type) whom these smaller players need to be around. Darling suits this role perfectly.I'd love him at the Dees.If not another tall similar.

Darling's only 190cm. Is that really a 'tall'?? Does anybody here consider Cam Bruce as a 'tall'??

Plus adding another Jack to the list in addition to what seems a certainty in Jack Viney...

Darling, Viney, Watts, Grimes, Trengove, Fitzpatrick......I can see the wisdom of the recruiting team coming together now!

Hawthorn hunted for left footers we went after Jacks!! Also settled for Jordans, James, Jamies and Jareds!!

The current recruiting team is bought to you by the letter J.

Sorry guys just a bit of fun!!

Darling's only 190cm. Is that really a 'tall'?? Does anybody here consider Cam Bruce as a 'tall'??

He would be if he were 192cm but then he would be...Now wait on.. B)

In every successful team , there seems to be a player that will give you a smack in the mouth,Darling is one(a protector type) whom these smaller players need to be around. Darling suits this role perfectly.I'd love him at the Dees.If not another tall similar.

I would have thought successful teams are successful for other reasons. I would have thought Steven Baker would have clearly demonstrated the true value of the "smack in the mouth" players. And he is no protector. I'd rather get Darling because he is the best player available to us. The ruff and tuff stuff is overrated by supporter. And Inner Demon is right. Darling tall??? At that size he is tallish midfielder.

Darling's only 190cm. Is that really a 'tall'?? Does anybody here consider Cam Bruce as a 'tall'??

No- I do not rate him as a tall- a medium height ,however he can play CHF or FF no doubt.Or as James McCarthy stated- he could ruck rove and play as a 3rd tall on the forward line.

He would be if he were 192cm but then he would be...Now wait on.. B)

I would have thought successful teams are successful for other reasons. I would have thought Steven Baker would have clearly demonstrated the true value of the "smack in the mouth" players. And he is no protector. I'd rather get Darling because he is the best player available to us. The ruff and tuff stuff is overrated by supporter. And Inner Demon is right. Darling tall??? At that size he is tallish midfielder.

Again-I disagree with you- Darling has class- he also can win a game off his own foot but he also is tough. A great mix for us.

Darling's only 190cm. Is that really a 'tall'?? Does anybody here consider Cam Bruce as a 'tall'??

Truthfully, that is my biggest concern.

He has been good and Fev is the same height, but do we really need to continue the trend of undersized forwards at melb (as my dad would say...)??

No- I do not rate him as a tall- a medium height ,however he can play CHF or FF no doubt.Or as James McCarthy stated- he could ruck rove and play as a 3rd tall on the forward line.

Just like Lynden Dunn..?

OR do we....

use our first pick at the trade table to try to secure the services of a disgruntled under 25 KPP ? Either a forward ..or a back releasing Garland forwad...just a thought.

Some players do play taller and some shorter than their listed height at times.

Matt Bate is listed as 192...doesn't seem to me to be this tall but his gait see's him almost hunched so could be deceptive. Riewoldt is 193 to me doesn't look that tall either. From the vision I saw Darling LOOKS to be taller but this could just be the other players around him that make it deceptive.

Rick Petterd and Jurrah at 185 & 188 are not that tall but both, so far, play well as marking targets. Not that I am confusing these two as talls.

Are there that many tall gorilla type defenders anymore anyway?

Not sure that we'd pick Darling.

There are whispers of character issues and we hold this area in high esteem.

There was that incident with him getting expelled from school...

Yeah, well if that is the case, we better start looking for some silver spoon fed panzy from Brighton Grammar, who dominates at APS level but spends the majority of his time at AFL level falling over. Good idea