I'm just giving an example of another junior footy watchers view. You should take it with a grain of salt.

Emma is a fine journalist and avid draft watcher, but I wouldn't be basing your views on her talent rankings. In 2007 she ranked Tom McNamara at 23 (delisted), she had Callan Ward at 21 (gun), Tony Notte at 19 (delisted), Cale Morton at 3 and Jarrad Grant at 5. In 2008 she had Watts at 1, Yarran at 2, and both are looking way off. She also had Vickery at 5 and Tom Swift at 7. Between 10 and 14 she had Sidebottom, Hurley, Ziebell, and Hill. I suspect they'd all be ranked higher now. She had Casey Sibasado in her top 25.

Btw, they weren't her phantom draft predictions, they were her ratings based on talent. My point being ? Don't get too rapt up in what order she has the top 10, or whether she rates Viney 5-10, as in all likelihood it won't have any relevance to reality 5 years down the track.

Somehow though I don't think it will stop you.

For your information, I don't rate Emma that highly. Just shows how low I rate a no-name on BF. The only opinion I rate is that of the MFC.

So in response to your last sentence, you know nothing about what I think. Keep guessing BH, I will let you know when you are close to the mark. Keep making uninformed guesses about my thoughts as it does amuse me how right you think you are, when you are actually so, so wrong.

I also think EQ's real talent is in finding out which clubs are interested in which players, not necessarily being able to evaluate their talent more accurately than anyone else.

I think you are pretty well on the mark here Jose. As a good journo she has her sources and uses them along with her own observations, she is not the guru but has positioned herself well being seen as a draft expert.

The only opinion I rate is that of the MFC.

So in response to your last sentence, you know nothing about what I think. Keep guessing BH, I will let you know when you are close to the mark. Keep making uninformed guesses about my thoughts as it does amuse me how right you think you are, when you are actually so, so wrong.

As I've said recently, I have to back the club to get it right, but, unlike you, their recent efforts don't have me "rating" their ability to do so. We live in hope. And yes, thankfully we now have new people at the helm.

Btw, I couldn't possibly pretend to know how you think. And I'm sure you'd forgive me if I said it wasn't a pressing concern.

Viney has a higher value to us than he does to other clubs. Firstly, we know him better than we do any other draftee and better than any other club knows him. That exposes us to less risk. Secondly, the support network he has in Melb and at MFC gives him a greater chance of success than being at GWS/GC. Finally, he is the type of player we need. I'm saying this because while draft gurus and other clubs may rate him 5-10, his increased value to MFC may justify pick 3.

...though I'm all for conniving to get him in the second round

I read Emma Quayle's articles regarding drafting, and she has Jack between 5-10. Personally, I rate Emma's articles over some average Joe on a footy forum.

Given that you follow Emma ...

Emma Quayle ‏ @emmasq

Why am I seeing Dees fans freaking out over what they'll pay for Viney? The season has barely started. He could well be worth top three.

Emma Quayle ‏ @emmasq

Viney strikes as a "safe" pick but so did M Murphy. Talented player, aggressive, brilliant, professional attitude, 2 years of prep #relax

is he playing today?

I saw the guy wtih the half sleeve kick 3 in the first quarter for the Vic-Looks good.

Viney has a higher value to us than he does to other clubs. Firstly, we know him better than we do any other draftee and better than any other club knows him. That exposes us to less risk. Secondly, the support network he has in Melb and at MFC gives him a greater chance of success than being at GWS/GC. Finally, he is the type of player we need. I'm saying this because while draft gurus and other clubs may rate him 5-10, his increased value to MFC may justify pick 3.

...though I'm all for conniving to get him in the second round

All valid points, but you're also forgetting the negative - how much it would hurt the image of the club for us to not select viney after all this build up.

Especially if he's good as we all expect.

anyone remember the article in the age about Viney, Tom Mitchell and who was the third kid?

anyone remember the article in the age about Viney, Tom Mitchell and who was the third kid?

This one? It's about Jack, Tom Curran and Toby Greene playing together for Ashburton.:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ash-thursday-20111120-1npfc.html

Really? They think we are weak because we have first dibs on the 'hardest' player in a generation? You don't think that these clubs are just trying to make sure we don't get a ludicrous discount on a prodigious talent by being able to take him at 25 in a draft we have 3 picks in the top 13?

Todd Viney was a wonderful servant of the MFC and the MFC supported Todd Viney through his wonderful career.........you'd reckon we deserve to get his son for a bargain!

I really enjoyed watching Jack yesterday. He clearly had limited game time, but he still impacted. There seems to have been a bit of a theme that he's not the quickest inside mid, but I was rapt to see that on the contrary he actually has good pace and a really nice left foot 35 metre pass.

I'm more confident than ever that we'll get him for a second round pick. I reckon his value lies somewhere between 6-15 and I saw enough talent to suggest that Gold Coast and GWS won't risk having to pay overs for him.

I really enjoyed watching Jack yesterday. He clearly had limited game time, but he still impacted. There seems to have been a bit of a theme that he's not the quickest inside mid, but I was rapt to see that on the contrary he actually has good pace and a really nice left foot 35 metre pass.

I'm more confident than ever that we'll get him for a second round pick. I reckon his value lies somewhere between 6-15 and I saw enough talent to suggest that Gold Coast and GWS won't risk having to pay overs for him.

Happy if youre right BH....and only a bit over 3 months to wait lol

I guess the big question over the next couple of months for us, GWS and GC is will Melb blink and take Whitfield or Grundy at pick 3 if GWS or GC selected Viney with picks 1 or 2.

Sentiment aside, would we be getting a "better" player with either of these two players over Jack?

All valid points, but you're also forgetting the negative - how much it would hurt the image of the club for us to not select viney after all this build up.

Especially if he's good as we all expect.

It shouldn't hurt the image at all. It would show that the club is responsible enough to not take a biased approach when drafting players.

At what cost though PaulRB? Any culture we have been trying to cultivate will be oblitherated!

If we pass on Viney i'll just about throw the towell in. Think you'll find you'll have thousands of shattered Demon supporters also.

Biased approach? He is the son of a former club great, and he is a gun!

Here we go again...

I'm out.. got stuff to do today. Good luck arguing semantics all day olisik

At what cost though PaulRB? Any culture we have been trying to cultivate will be oblitherated!

If we pass on Viney i'll just about throw the towell in. Think you'll find you'll have thousands of shattered Demon supporters also.

I guess I am more inclined towards a hard assed high performance culture than a sentimental old boys club.

If there is daylight between Whitfield and Grundy (could be others), and Jack Viney we shouldn't flinch at grabbing the best player available.

I don't know if this is the case. I'd love Jack to play for Melbourne, and he could well be a great player.

Biased approach? He is the son of a former club great, and he is a gun!

Here we go again...

I'm out.. got stuff to do today. Good luck arguing semantics all day olisik

Recruiting someone for that point is not biased?.........ooookk then

Hows the younger of the Viney boys coming along? any news on him lately?

I have to say that i think the MFC will get the best kid at pick 3 not viney if they dont rate him pick 3.

Its not a boys club its a club that MUST do what is best for the members.

I think viney is worth pick 3 but the MFC recruiters will no alot more then me and all demonlanders.

I think GWS will not bid for jack if they dont rate him top 2.

I have to say that i think the MFC will get the best kid at pick 3 not viney if they dont rate him pick 3.

Its not a boys club its a club that MUST do what is best for the members.

I think viney is worth pick 3 but the MFC recruiters will no alot more then me and all demonlanders.

I think GWS will not bid for jack if they dont rate him top 2.

problem is Jim it is very very subjective to rank the top 10 draftees

no one really knows and there is a lot of follow the loudest 'expert'

i'm still hopeful we get him for a round 2 pick by hook or by crook

problem is Jim it is very very subjective to rank the top 10 draftees

no one really knows and there is a lot of follow the loudest 'expert'

i'm still hopeful we get him for a round 2 pick by hook or by crook

Yes it's a hard game thats for sure and you just never no how a kid will go once in the AFL enviroment.

However you can get a fair idea of how these kids should go but its never ever perfect.

The odds must be in our corner this year because we really have had a bad 5 years in the draft.

We must get this right and viney seems like a safe bet to me at pick 3 if we have to.

Fingers crossed for november.

This one? It's about Jack, Tom Curran and Toby Greene playing together for Ashburton.:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ash-thursday-20111120-1npfc.html

Thanks for tracking this article down and sharing it with us.

Let's just hope the club plays their cards very close to their chest, and put every bit of doubt possible in GWS and GC heads that we are willing to call their bluff, even if we have all intentions of grabbing him regardless.

Can't wait for the F/S meeting to occur and Harrington et al come out to announce we will be using our second rounder on Viney and we can end all this speculation and plotting these crazy schemes.