Given that it's doing my head in having every second thread hijacked by someone who wants to have a swipe at Barry P and the recruiting dept., I was hoping that if there was a stand-alone recruiting thread it would siphon off most of said discussion.

I'll start the ball rolling with a quote from Terry Wallace on the AFL site:

"Many clubs in the past have put all their eggs into the national draft basket only to come up short, as it is not a foolproof system. Dyson Heppell and Andrew Gaff both have shown that they should have been on the Suns' radar. As good as recruiters are, the system is still a lottery."

Does anyone really think that Dyson Heppel would have half his reputation if he played for the Gold Coast?

Furthermore, Barry Prendergast's first year as MFC recruiter was 2008 - the year Jack Watts, Sam Blease, James Strauss, Jamie Bennell & Neville Jetta etc were drafted.

Does anyone really think that dyson heppel would have half his reputation if he played for the gold coast?

Only because he would be just one of a raft of unknown, young, draft talent that we don't get to watch every week, unlike the Bombers. The kid is serious quality, will go close to winning their B&F in his first year.

Great concept Bing181

Let me begin by saying that every club has a recruiting nightmare in their history for example when I lived in the west, Eagles fans would love to remind the Dockers Fans over the Andrew Mcleod for Chris Groom trade 1995.

I reckon BP got it right for his first draft in 2008, ask me about 2009 at the end of season next year.

Does anyone really think that Dyson Heppel would have half his reputation if he played for the Gold Coast?

Explain.

Bit early to be judging that draft class.

It's very possible that the 3 taken before Gaff could eventually justify their draft position, same as all the players drafted before Heppell.

And let's not forget that Gold Coast had to take into account list makeup, rather than just choosing "best available."

Furthermore, Barry Prendergast's first year as MFC recruiter was 2008 - the year Jack Watts, Sam Blease, James Strauss, Jamie Bennell & Neville Jetta etc were drafted.

Barry's done a brilliant job.

Following recruitment comes player development and patience, as the kids learn and grow at there own speed. And their games accordingly.

On the Draft I recorded that thing in the TAC show did. I'll have a look at what they said.

I haven't kept up since we had the priority pick.

This year will be Very interesting, how many kids we draft, and how many mature types we take/trade for.

Depending on results next week, our first pick in the 2011 draft will be in the range #13 to #17. Then picks around #33, #51 and #69.

Not a great position for any club to be hoping to trade for an 'established' and 'hard-bodied' forward or midfielder with long-term prospects.

It's this part of the Wallace quote that grabbed my attention:

"As good as recruiters are, the system is still a lottery".

IOW, just because a recruiter misses out on insert-your-favourite-young-gun-here, it doesn't mean that they've done a bad job. There are too many variables. Because of that, even the best recruiters will "miss" players they could have taken at their choice - and by definition, select players that turn out to have been taken too high.

What I like about Prendergast's recruiting is the likes of Nicholson and Evans, Howe, Fitzpatrick and Gawn - all lower and rookie picks who look likely. IMHO, it's the players you take outside of the first 20 or 30 who give a better indication as to whether you've done your job or not.

Finally, the overall direction as to the kinds of players recruited is more at the behest of the FD. The recruiting department doesn't operate in isolation.

It's this part of the Wallace quote that grabbed my attention:

"As good as recruiters are, the system is still a lottery".

IOW, just because a recruiter misses out on insert-your-favourite-young-gun-here, it doesn't mean that they've done a bad job. There are too many variables. Because of that, even the best recruiters will "miss" players they could have taken at their choice - and by definition, select players that turn out to have been taken too high.

What I like about Prendergast's recruiting is the likes of Nicholson and Evans, Howe, Fitzpatrick and Gawn - all lower and rookie picks who look likely. IMHO, it's the players you take outside of the first 20 or 30 who give a better indication as to whether you've done your job or not.

Finally, the overall direction as to the kinds of players recruited is more at the behest of the FD. The recruiting department doesn't operate in isolation.

Nice work mate.

It's this part of the Wallace quote that grabbed my attention:

"As good as recruiters are, the system is still a lottery".

IOW, just because a recruiter misses out on insert-your-favourite-young-gun-here, it doesn't mean that they've done a bad job. There are too many variables. Because of that, even the best recruiters will "miss" players they could have taken at their choice - and by definition, select players that turn out to have been taken too high.

What I like about Prendergast's recruiting is the likes of Nicholson and Evans, Howe, Fitzpatrick and Gawn - all lower and rookie picks who look likely. IMHO, it's the players you take outside of the first 20 or 30 who give a better indication as to whether you've done your job or not.

Finally, the overall direction as to the kinds of players recruited is more at the behest of the FD. The recruiting department doesn't operate in isolation.

Good post. Every recruiter must "miss" players, it is just the way it works.

Depending on results next week, our first pick in the 2011 draft will be in the range #13 to #17. Then picks around #33, #51 and #69.

Not a great position for any club to be hoping to trade for an 'established' and 'hard-bodied' forward or midfielder with long-term prospects.

Nonetheless, we can trade players and picks in combination for players and picks from other clubs. We haven't really been involved a great deal in the trades in past years but I think it might be a necessity this year given the apparent shallowness of the draft pool and the fact that GWS dominates the early picks anyway.

The panel on the TAC Cup Future Stars programme produced this phantom draft based on last week's ladder positions:-

1. Jonathan Patton (Eastern Ranges) - GWS

2. Stephen Coniglio (Swan Districts, WA) - GWS

3. Chad Wingard (Sturt,SA) - GWS

4. Dom Tyson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Port Adelaide

5. Billy Longer (Northern Knights) - GWS

6. Taylor Adams (Geelong Falcons) - Gold Coast

7. Devon Smith (Geelong Falcons) - GWS

8. Toby Greene (Oakleigh Chargers) - Brisbane

9. Will Hoskin-Elliot (Western Jets) - GWS

10. Matthew Buntine (Dandenong Stingrays) - Adelaide

11. Hayden Crozier (Eastern Ranges) -GWS

12. Todd Elton (Dandenong Stingrays) - Melbourne

13. Nick Haynes (Dandenong Stingrays) - GWS

14. Elliot Kavanagh (Western Jets) - Richmond

15. Daniel Markworth (Calder Cannons) - GWS

16. Liam Sumner (Sandringham Dragons) - Western Bulldogs

17. Sam Docherty (Gippsland Power) - Fremantle

18. Brad McKenzie (Sturt, SA) - North Melbourne

19. Mitchell Grigg (Norwood, SA) - Essendon

20. Tom Mitchell (Claremont) f/s - Sudney

21. Seb Ross (North Ballarat Rebels) - St. Kilda

22. Adam Tomlinson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Carlton

23. Clay Smith (Gippsland Power) - West Coast

24. Michael Talia (Calder Cannons) - Hawthorn

25. Josh Tynan (Gippsland Power) - Geelong

26. Brandon Ellis (Calder Cannons) - Collingwood

Nonetheless, we can trade players and picks in combination for players and picks from other clubs. We haven't really been involved a great deal in the trades in past years but I think it might be a necessity this year given the apparent shallowness of the draft pool and the fact that GWS dominates the early picks anyway.

The panel on the TAC Cup Future Stars programme produced this phantom draft based on last week's ladder positions:- 

1. Jonathan Patton (Eastern Ranges) - GWS

2. Stephen Coniglio (Swan Districts, WA) - GWS

3. Chad Wingard (Sturt,SA)  - GWS

4. Dom Tyson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Port Adelaide

5. Billy Longer (Northern Knights) - GWS

6. Taylor Adams (Geelong Falcons) - Gold Coast

7. Devon Smith (Geelong Falcons) - GWS

8. Toby Greene (Oakleigh Chargers) - Brisbane

9. Will Hoskin-Elliot (Western Jets) - GWS

10. Matthew Buntine (Dandenong Stingrays) - Adelaide

11. Hayden Crozier (Eastern Ranges) -GWS

12. Todd Elton (Dandenong Stingrays) - Melbourne 

13. Nick Haynes (Dandenong Stingrays) - GWS

14. Elliot Kavanagh (Western Jets) - Richmond 

15. Daniel Markworth (Calder Cannons) - GWS

16. Liam Sumner (Sandringham Dragons) - Western Bulldogs

17. Sam Docherty (Gippsland Power) - Fremantle 

18. Brad McKenzie (Sturt, SA) - North Melbourne 

19. Mitchell Grigg (Norwood, SA) - Essendon

20. Tom Mitchell (Claremont) f/s - Sudney

21. Seb Ross (North Ballarat Rebels) - St. Kilda

22. Adam Tomlinson (Oakleigh Chargers) - Carlton

23. Clay Smith (Gippsland Power) - West Coast

24. Michael Talia (Calder Cannons) - Hawthorn

25. Josh Tynan (Gippsland Power) - Geelong 

26. Brandon Ellis (Calder Cannons) - Collingwood 

Thanks WJ but who is Todd Elton?

What position?

Anyone know?

Thanks WJ but who is Todd Elton?

What position?

Anyone know?

Tall forward/ruck...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/101781/default.aspx

Tall forward/ruck...

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/101781/default.aspx

God he is not another skinny 17 year old is he?

I know most are but can we please get someone of size who is ready to start in 2012 or 13 not 2016.

Tall forward/ruck...

http://www.afl.com.a...81/default.aspx

Sounds like Danial Gorringe.

God he is not another skinny 17 year old is he?

I know most are but can we please get someone of size who is ready to start in 2012 or 13 not 2016.

We will No doubt, but not from the draft. Probably through trades, it could get hectic and expensive.

I doubt we'd draft beyond the second round. But rookies,,, look out???

We will No doubt, but not from the draft. Probably through trades, it could get hectic and expensive.

I doubt we'd draft beyond the second round. But rookies,,, look out???

Why not use this pick as bait to try and get an experienced player!

Surely we need some experience not more kids.

God he is not another skinny 17 year old is he?

I know most are but can we please get someone of size who is ready to start in 2012 or 13 not 2016.

Not sure about being skinny, Elton is pretty much the same size as Watts is now...

Watts: 196cm, 91kg

Elton: 197cm, 90kg

Not sure about being skinny, Elton is pretty much the same size as Watts is now...

Watts: 196cm, 91kg

Elton: 197cm, 90kg

Good That is a start

Why not use this pick as bait to try and get an experienced player!

Surely we need some experience not more kids.

Pick 2 won't get any decent mature player. Not even close. Every team will be trying to do the same.

We'll HAVE TO give Big, to get what we want.

The strength of MFC's recruiting in recent times hasn't been in the early draft yet - it's too soon to see results from this. It's been our PSD and rookie picks. McKenzie, Jurrah, Jamar, Nicho, Evans, Martin, Wonna. Chuck Bail in there as a final round draft selection too. These are the gems we seem to keep coming across, and we seem to take a punt that keeps paying off in the rookie and PS drafts.

Don't know how many clubs can boast 4 rookies to senior list players, let alone the probable five, maybe even six depending on Evans that the club will have next year. It's amazing how many gems we seem to uncover later in the draft.

The strength of MFC's recruiting in recent times hasn't been in the early draft yet - it's too soon to see results from this. It's been our PSD and rookie picks. McKenzie, Jurrah, Jamar, Nicho, Evans, Martin, Wonna. Chuck Bail in there as a final round draft selection too. These are the gems we seem to keep coming across, and we seem to take a punt that keeps paying off in the rookie and PS drafts.

Don't know how many clubs can boast 4 rookies to senior list players, let alone the probable five, maybe even six depending on Evans that the club will have next year. It's amazing how many gems we seem to uncover later in the draft.

And our early picks, which are longer term picks, will be very good as well.