Yes - and part of this is being able to imagine what a player will become when his weight becomes proportional to his height. Recruiting the likes of Darling (or Luke Tapscott for an example closer to home) is the easy part of the business because what they will be is often what they already are. Seeing attributes you like in a body that isn't ready yet is the tricky part. That is why so many people are throwing themselves off cliffs over us recruiting Cook over Darling - because they are unable to see Barry's future vision for the player.

Just to be clear I'm not saying that Cook was a good choice, I'm saying there's no way we can tell whether he was a good or bad choice until he develops further.

Nasher I hope I don't die waiting for some of these blokes!

Was that directed at me? I didn't want Fev but I did want Darling, whether he turns out the player I think he will be remains to be seen, but he appears to be the sort to fit in to the current style of the game.

i've said this many times before, I don't care what the other clubs did, I don't care if they passed up on a player or not, good recruiters are those that can see the talent in a player when no one else can. If we are going to give big raps to our recruiters then they should get it right, in particular with their high draft picks and God knows we've had plenty of them lately.

Darling has been very good, but look at the big bodied support he gets on the West Coast forward line - Kennedy, Lynch and then throw in Nic Nat and Big Cox when resting down there. He is often matched up on a smaller, lighter defender, in our forward line he would attract a Glass or Rutten type.

Darling is already physically mature, Cook isn't. As with all drafting comparisons you need to wait a few seasons to see how the players develop.

Darling has been very good, but look at the big bodied support he gets on the West Coast forward line - Kennedy, Lynch and then throw in Nic Nat and Big Cox when resting down there. He is often matched up on a smaller, lighter defender, in our forward line he would attract a Glass or Rutten type.

Darling is already physically mature, Cook isn't. As with all drafting comparisons you need to wait a few seasons to see how the players develop.

BK I understand the principle but IMO we need a big body for 2011 - 2013 we cannot afford the wait till 2014.

A big body in 2011 is still the same in 2014

Did we really pay to upgrade Campbell? He's not even in the Casey 1's! Am I missing the point somewhere (quite likely)

Did we really pay to upgrade Campbell? He's not even in the Casey 1's! Am I missing the point somewhere (quite likely)

Sorry no idea

Did we really pay to upgrade Campbell? He's not even in the Casey 1's! Am I missing the point somewhere (quite likely)

Have a look at the Ruckman for Casey, tell me who it is?

Have a look at the Ruckman for Casey, tell me who it is?

Fair point. I was looking at the reserve team where Campbell is CHF. It's a Campbellfest

Fair point. I was looking at the reserve team where Campbell is CHF. It's a Campbellfest

He missed so much footy with the Achilles injury early in the season that they're making him play twice today.

Fair point. I was looking at the reserve team where Campbell is CHF. It's a Campbellfest

His name will even be on the soup tins they will using to provide the soup for the President's lunch.

By order of whoever donated $15k only to see it used in a baffling upgrade scenario

By order of whoever donated $15k only to see it used in a baffling upgrade scenario

Do we pay the $15k when a rookie is upgraded or when he's actually used as an upgraded player in the AFL? If it's the latter then it makes sense on the off chance that we make the finals and need an extra ruckman.

There will be a hundred genius's on here who will say - I said we should we have picked up ......yet we only hear of the pick that has made it ( and he aint quite there yet"

This seems to be a common theme from you. What you need to understand is that recruiters are paid to use their foresight. Every recruiter makes mistakes and while the success curve is increasing we all accept that there are still plenty of first rounders that won't make it. But there's nothing wrong with expecting the best when it comes to your own club. Ultimately all recruiters live or die by ther selections. Don't be too accepting of poor selections as I'm sure the club won't be.

I think that in the main Prendergast has done well. We needed to nail our top 20 selections in 08 and I'm not sure we have. It was a critical draft for the club. We all knew at the time that we had to get it right. It was a massively important draft. Redden, Shuey, Hannebery would all look good in red and blue. My Brother wrote a detailed letter to Prendergast before the draft urging him to take Hannebery with one of our teen picks.

It may be hindsight for you, but it isn't for everybody.

On my way to Coburg.

Anyone know where the best parking spots are?

Found one anyway.

Close game with Casey leading by 10 points early in the third term 8.3.51 to 5.11.41.

Now for a bite to eat

Casey by 35 Pts @ 3/4 time.

Casey Scorpions 6.1.37 8.3.52 13.6.84 18.9.117

Coburg Tigers 2.5.17 5.8.38 6.13.49 11.13.79

Goals

Casey Scorpions Bail Dowse Purves Waite 2 Allen Clay Collins Cook Fieldsend McShane Matthews Pollard Purdy Weekes

Coburg Tigers Pound Xuereb 2 Ambrose Ambrose Cartello Dahl Duhau Lirosi Morris

Best

Casey Scorpions Matthews Patti Cleven Bolton Dowse Purdy

Coburg Tigers Thomas Cartelli Dahl Garland Lirosi Robortella

SOS is at the ground.

Wonder why?

Looks like no LJ or Gawn.

No Dan Nicholson either because he just walked past where I'm standing.

Apparently Liam Jurrah is out with soreness. Addam Maric has the flu (not selected in the first place).

Bate and Warnock most likely, i would like to see the back of Bate but not Warnock. Too good an insurance

Bate and Warnock most likely, i would like to see the back of Bate but not Warnock. Too good an insurance

Bate has been off most of the first quarter getting some work on the hammy just snuck on. Fitzy has taken three of four grabs around the ground playing in the ruck with the mountain of a man Campbell

It's a lacklustre game with scores level - 2.1.13 apiece.

Goals to McGough and Nicholls.

It's a lacklustre game with scores level - 2.1.13 apiece.

Goals to McGeogh and Nicholls.

Lace out to Fev from Bate. Fev from 50 straight in front..... yep

McGough gets his second followed by Fevola's long goal. Casey lead by six points.

Quarter Time

Casey Scorpions 4.2.26

Coburg Tigers 3.1.19