Here it is. Emma Quayle's top 25 ranked players.

This is not a phantom draft.

The Golden Boys

Here it is. Emma Quayle's top 25 ranked players.

This is not a phantom draft.

The Golden Boys

No Kieren Harper in the top 25.

She's joking!

No Kieren Harper in the top 25.

She's joking!

I have no problem with that.

I have no problem with that.

Agreed.

She's entitled to inject some humour into her articles if she wants to!!!

FWIW she has Seb Tape ranked 12th http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/102377/default.aspx, We could use a player like him. I am fond of players who play with a sense of calmness.

Looking at here "where will he be picked?"

1-6: She pretty much has the standard: Swallow, Day Bennell, Gaff, Heppell, Polec (although she does throw Conca in at 6 as a possibility)

7-8: Then it's Atley and Caddy to Essendon and GC in either order.

9-11 and 13: Gold Coast's next 4 picks (with our's before the last one) she has Lynch, Gorringe, Pitt, Lycett, Tape, Isaac Smith, Prestia, Watson and Conca and I'd be surprised if they took 2 ruckmen.

12: For us she has Lynch, Gorringe, Lycett, Prestia, Brodie Smith, Darling, Watson and Jacobs all mentioned - more talls than small in that lot.

Looking at here "where will he be picked?"

1-6: She pretty much has the standard: Swallow, Day Bennell, Gaff, Heppell, Polec (although she does throw Conca in at 6 as a possibility)

7-8: Then it's Atley and Caddy to Essendon and GC in either order.

9-11 and 13: Gold Coast's next 4 picks (with our's before the last one) she has Lynch, Gorringe, Pitt, Lycett, Tape, Isaac Smith, Prestia, Watson and Conca and I'd be surprised if they took 2 ruckmen.

12: For us she has Lynch, Gorringe, Lycett, Prestia, Brodie Smith, Darling, Watson and Jacobs all mentioned - more talls than small in that lot.

I'd be happy Darling or Lynch.

Interesting that there is so much focus on talls for us. MDT. I wonder whether it's because everyone thinks that we will draft a tall or whether it's because the best players available at that point are talls. History indicates that the latter is unlikely.

Although this could work in our favour, with Gold Coast perhaps looking to go tall with one or two of their picks at 9, 10 and 11 (rather than 13) thinking that we will take a tall at 12.

I still think we'll go small early and then a tall or two later on.

I still think we are a big chance to get a mid size defender. We need someone back there with good footskills, we have Grimes, the club is hoping Strauss can step up but on the foot skills side we are average at best in our back half. Considering so much of our attack comes from our rebound IMO the club will be on the look out for a highly skilled defender.

I still think we are a big chance to get a mid size defender. We need someone back there with good footskills, we have Grimes, the club is hoping Strauss can step up but on the foot skills side we are average at best in our back half. Considering so much of our attack comes from our rebound IMO the club will be on the look out for a highly skilled defender.

I've been swaying back and forth, but I still think we'll go Tom Lynch or Jack Darling if either is available (Darling being most likely).

Darling is a ready made player, 191cm strong forward, completely different to our other types of forward, and would complement Watts, Jurrah, Pettard and Green very nicely. I also like the way he is very good with forward pressure, which makes him potentially a better prospect than Bate or Newton who just give up once the ball hits the deck. Darling really would complete our forward line.

If those 2 are gone, we should pick a half back flanker- Smedts, Smith, Jacobs, Pitt all good options. With Bruce gone, there is a definite hole there, and 2 holes once Grimes moves to the midfield. We are trying to fill that gap with players like Grimes, Bail, Bennel and Morton, but I think those guys are suited best elsewhere.

I still don't think picking up a genuine midfielder like Caddy, Conca or Polec are out of the question if they last to our pick. can never have enough great midfield options

I still think we'll go small early and then a tall or two later on.

Tend to agree. Smith, Jacobs or perhaps Smedts. Would be happy with any. I'd include Darling in the mix if still available.

I like how E.Q. has sort of mapped out proceedings for her top 25. It gives just as much insight into what may or may happen on draft night. So many permutations/combinations. All recruiters will have some sort of matrix and process of elimination as they get read out.

On the night - if they follow last year's procedure by calling out the top 10 in reverse order - we'll have a reasonable understanding of who may or may not be available / who might fall at 12. Because the top 10 is done before the commencement of the televised draft in a side room, BP & Co. should have a clear settled mind as to who will be picked (already knowing the top 10 picked) at 12 (even though there is one pick to be read out beforehand (pick 11). ie. extra time to assess.

Interesting that there is so much focus on talls for us. MDT. I wonder whether it's because everyone thinks that we will draft a tall or whether it's because the best players available at that point are talls. History indicates that the latter is unlikely.

Although this could work in our favour, with Gold Coast perhaps looking to go tall with one or two of their picks at 9, 10 and 11 (rather than 13) thinking that we will take a tall at 12.

I still think we'll go small early and then a tall or two later on.

I imagine GC may start to pick for needs a bit in 9-11 and 13.

Altho EQ listed all those players as GC interest at those picks she particularly noted:

Lynch

Gorringe and Lycett - but surely they wouldn't take both

Conca

Pitt - probably at 13

If that's the 4 they take they'd want to make sure they took the one we like before 12.

They'll have similar info to EQ - BP is notorious for playing his cards close and who can blame him.

She doesn't have us into Conca or Pitt, but she does have us into the 3 talls.

So your reasoning that they'll go taller at 9-11 is sound.

The smalls she has us into are Prestia, B.Smith and Jacobs

Of course there could easily be someone outside her 25 that we like.

She does say GC wont take Darling and I don't think we will either - too much risk.

Wonder if she'll do a phantom on Thursday?

Will there be an MFC draft event this year? I missed last year's because I was away with work.

Yeah its all good and i know she is a good Journop and knows her stuff, i have no problem with that, but to be honest i am that sick of top 25's and Phantom drafts.

Honestly, i reckon you go a recently arrived Indian (replace with whatecver nationality you like, its not a raciast thing!) and he could knock out a phantom draft just on the back of everyone elses.

Yeah its all good and i know she is a good Journop and knows her stuff, i have no problem with that, but to be honest i am that sick of top 25's and Phantom drafts.

Honestly, i reckon you go a recently arrived Indian (replace with whatecver nationality you like, its not a raciast thing!) and he could knock out a phantom draft just on the back of everyone elses.

Its easy. Dont read them then.

Why do you need to highlight nationality anyway to illustrate your point?

Ok take the nationality out (thought it was a bit dodgy of me to name a nationality seriously not a race thing didnt mean to, apologies everyone) replace it with Aliens then, but my point is they are a dime a dozen, and you want to read about the draft its hard not to read them, every "so called expert" is taking a stab.

I read the Quayle article and found it interesting enough.

That said, I don't care much about the players at this point. I've decided I'll get interested in who we're going to draft...after the draft, when they're actually on our list.

I read the Quayle article and found it interesting enough.

That said, I don't care much about the players at this point. I've decided I'll get interested in who we're going to draft...after the draft, when they're actually on our list.

Do you have a particular preference, or just best available, leave it to BP....?

A few excerpts of interest re: pick 12 from Emma’s draft blog this afternoon (Q&A format from the Age website):

Hi Emma,

What's your tip on where Darling will go?

Greg

Hi Greg. Melbourne at 12 is a big chance. Hard to see Carlton letting him past them and same with Freo. He's very hard to pick as clubs are very split on him. AT the moment I have him at 12.

Greg - November 15, 2010, 12:34PM

Hi Emma,

Just after the latest for the dees at pick 12. In your article you listed Lynch, Darling, Gorringe, Lycett, Jacobs, Brodie Smith and a few more all linked to the dees. Has the puzzle got any clearer. Thanks

Hi, it's still kinda blurry! Depends entirely on what the Gold Coast does. I think at this stage that GC will take Lynch and Gorringe that it will come out of Darling, Dion Prestia and Jacobs.

- Emma.

mightydees11 - November 15, 2010, 12:28PM

Hello Emma,

Just in reply to your top 25 rankings you had Ben Jacobs at 24, do you think he would be undeserving of Melbourne taking him at 12. Also in regards to Ben which position do you believe he is best suited to as he has the ability to play back, mid or forward.

Thankyou Pete

Hi Pete. I think Ben is a great talent and would not be surprised if the Dees love him. I could see him starting on a back flank, maybe sending Grimes into the middle, and ending up a midfielder. At this stage you'd say there are some more genuine midfield prospects ahead of him but Ben is a very good player and his attitude is one of the best around, people speak very highly of him.

- Emma

Pete | Black rock - November 15, 2010, 1:04PM

Hi Emma,

Who will Melb target at pick 12? What about Darling from WA? Would he fit in with the D's culture and set up?

Hi Ed. I would love to see them pick Darling. I think that together, Watts, Darling and Jurrah would give their fwd line three very different marking options. Some clubs are concerned about his off field behaviour as he's got himself into a bit of trouble here or there, but he is a very likeable person and he takes his footy seriously. He wants to be good and he's very competitive. Melbourne's youngsters are very impressive people. You'd like to think he'd knuckle down once he got there.

Interesting to also see Schwab asked Quayle on Twitter who the dees should take with her replying that we should take Darling provided thorough testing on his head returns positive results (paraphrasing).

Clarky at the Hun recommended that we take Jacobs, with a few others as fallbacks.

Either way, we'll end up with a couple of decent kids to further build with.

Do you have a particular preference, or just best available, leave it to BP....?

I honestly don't know the draftees well enough to comment. I don't watch any underage football.

There are player types I think we need, but I can't say we should get X type at N pick because I can't compare players of that type with whoever else might go around that mark.

I figure that even if I read a bunch of posts about the potential draftees and watched some vision it still wouldn't give me much insight, so I just skip most of it

The last couple of years I've paid more attention because we had picks in the top few, so I could focus my attention on just a few players.

How do so many of you have any clue about these draft prospects?

This is not a personal dig at anyone in particular, I just don't understand how you come to your (often strong) opinions on these guys.

Watching a lot of footy doesn't make you understand the game any more or less or make your opinion more or less valid. But how often have you seen these guys play (in the flesh, on a dodgy highlights video, or otherwise)?

I'm grateful for the information I have access to on this site and via it's users. There are some great posters and plenty with valuable information. But when talking about these youngsters, I find it hard to believe that so many of you genuinely have an insight into their game's and why they would or wouldn't be a good pick up on draft day.

Watching a lot of footy doesn't make you understand the game any more or less or make your opinion more or less valid.

I watch a fair bit. And I don't agree with this sentence of yours. If I watched a lot less - I know for a fact I would have much less of an opinion.

How do so many of you have any clue about these draft prospects?

This is not a personal dig at anyone in particular, I just don't understand how you come to your (often strong) opinions on these guys.

Watching a lot of footy doesn't make you understand the game any more or less or make your opinion more or less valid. But how often have you seen these guys play (in the flesh, on a dodgy highlights video, or otherwise)?

I'm grateful for the information I have access to on this site and via it's users. There are some great posters and plenty with valuable information. But when talking about these youngsters, I find it hard to believe that so many of you genuinely have an insight into their game's and why they would or wouldn't be a good pick up on draft day.

Because I am an astute football mind.

Simple really.

I watch a fair bit. And I don't agree with this sentence of yours. If I watched a lot less - I know for a fact I would have much less of an opinion.

Just trying to avoid the "I've been a member for 45 years so I think I know what I'm talking about" argument.

Interesting to also see Schwab asked Quayle on Twitter who the dees should take with her replying that we should take Darling provided thorough testing on his head returns positive results (paraphrasing).

Clarky at the Hun recommended that we take Jacobs, with a few others as fallbacks.

Either way, we'll end up with a couple of decent kids to further build with.

Clarky has us as drafting either Lynch or Gorringe now:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/brisbane-lions-to-snatch-richmond-target-jared-polec/story-e6frf9jf-1225954635956