My information from the Top End is that Waylen Manson didn't play for Waratah today. The result was somewhat of an upset with Southern Districts winning 9.6.60 to 9.4.58 in the wet despite Waratah having a star studded line up including a few former Carlton players in Brendan Fevola (7 goals), Ryan Houlihan and Heath Culpitt as well as Gippslander Beau Runnalls. A few of those blokes are certainly not strangers to controversy.

The game had a bit of a Casey flavour with former Scorpion reserves players Aaron Hillberg and Andrew Oldmeadow turning out for the winners.

Fair effort from Fev: 7 from 9!

I guess the 'risk' aspect depends a bit on how the list as a whole respond to the "no nonsense, zero tolerance" mantra of the new administration and coaching group........if the list responds positively their attitude cannot help but pass on to the new players.

Of course the coaching / recruiting staff will also have had an opportunity to suss him out -- if they think he is not going to cut the mustard under a regime of hard work and team rules, and of course 'roles', then he won't be considered: if they think he will do the needful then, depending on who else is under consideration and who is available, then maybe.

I think the risk doesn't necessarily correlate to the amount of work he'll have to do. The full time training and commitment to excellence might be hard to adapt too, but not the main problem. Even if you have the most amazing culture of hard work ever, and with a strong group of Indigenous players, the risk of him going home is still high.

Say what you want about Indigenous culture and its not our role to judge but in a 10 year career its almost a fact that one of Manson's family (be that close or not) will have issues due to death or crime or both. Just look at what Jurrah has faced so far whilst he's been here, with half of his community camping in Adelaide. He's already changed his name to Waylen, which I think is honourable, but consider this, how many people on this site would change their name if someone close to them with the same first name died. Of the non-Indigenous on here I doubt I'll find one. To me its an indication that he lives by different values, which may even be better values than what we do. However, the other 17 clubs won't change their ways to accommodate Manson having to go home and not being fully fit or missing games so if we draft him we will have to adapt and he will have to adapt. Personally I think we might have underestimated the amount someone like Jurrah or Manson have to adapt, and therefore underestimated the risk. It may well be that competitive AFL culture and strong traditional Indigenous culture can't co exist at the moment.

To be quite honest I reckon if we do take him it will be as a Rookie and I doubt that he will be snapped up in the national draft as some seem to think. It would be good to get him on board but we have to be realistic, he will be a gamble and just because he is kicking goals in Darwin it doesn't mean he will kick them in the top competition in the land.

I wonder if Liam got too many easy games early on and didn't have to fight for them and if so I wonder if the club has learnt a valuable lesson.Talent is a wonderful thing but it has to be coupled with hunger, to do any good.

I think the risk doesn't necessarily correlate to the amount of work he'll have to do. The full time training and commitment to excellence might be hard to adapt too, but not the main problem. Even if you have the most amazing culture of hard work ever, and with a strong group of Indigenous players, the risk of him going home is still high.

Say what you want about Indigenous culture and its not our role to judge but in a 10 year career its almost a fact that one of Manson's family (be that close or not) will have issues due to death or crime or both. Just look at what Jurrah has faced so far whilst he's been here, with half of his community camping in Adelaide. He's already changed his name to Waylen, which I think is honourable, but consider this, how many people on this site would change their name if someone close to them with the same first name died. Of the non-Indigenous on here I doubt I'll find one. To me its an indication that he lives by different values, which may even be better values than what we do. However, the other 17 clubs won't change their ways to accommodate Manson having to go home and not being fully fit or missing games so if we draft him we will have to adapt and he will have to adapt. Personally I think we might have underestimated the amount someone like Jurrah or Manson have to adapt, and therefore underestimated the risk. It may well be that competitive AFL culture and strong traditional Indigenous culture can't co exist at the moment.

How do we know he will go home when it suits him? We haven't even got him yet , mind you . He wont leave if we're winning .

That is if we get him .Which we wont .

How do we know he will go home when it suits him? We haven't even got him yet , mind you . He wont leave if we're winning .

That is if we get him .Which we wont .

Disagree, I reckon he's ours if we want him.

Hope you are right Robbie. He could be the next Buddy .

Disagree, I reckon he's ours if we want him.

Well it won't be in the rookie draft as you suggest in your post 128. He will only be ours IMO, if he is there at 36 and we select him,because he won't be there at 52.

Well it won't be in the rookie draft as you suggest in your post 128. He will only be ours IMO, if he is there at 36 and we select him,because he won't be there at 52.

I disagree - if going by the media the only other interest (in Manson) is from West Coast and to a lesser degree, Freo. If they want him, they have to take him before our Pick 36, otherwise we can take him at 52 or 54 as neither of those clubs has a pick in between - assuming he is so high on our radar.

Yes, it depends very much if any club wants to take him with a selection in the 20s or 30s.

We know he can kick goals if conditions suit but he didn't kick a goal in the next round to last and didn't appear at the weekend when it was wet.

Anyone know why he missed the game?

Yes, it depends very much if any club wants to take him with a selection in the 20s or 30s.

We know he can kick goals if conditions suit but he didn't kick a goal in the next round to last and didn't appear at the weekend when it was wet.

Anyone know why he missed the game?

Barry told him to shut up shop till we recruit him at 54?

players taken in the ND are on the list for 2 years

I disagree - if going by the media the only other interest (in Manson) is from West Coast and to a lesser degree, Freo. If they want him, they have to take him before our Pick 36, otherwise we can take him at 52 or 54 as neither of those clubs has a pick in between - assuming he is so high on our radar.

If you read through the articles earlier in the thread you'll see that there is strong interest from Port Adelaide as well. They have one pick in the top 10 then nothing until the 40's so it's a question for them of whether he's worth their only high pick. If he's still there in the 40's they'll take him.

Majak Daw was picked up in the rookie draft. He was an exciting type of player in the U18's.

I think Manson might be in a similiar situation!

But if we want him I think we need to use Pick 36. I can see a North, WB or Essendon getting in before us.

Majak Daw was picked up in the rookie draft. He was an exciting type of player in the U18's.

I think Manson might be in a similiar situation!

But if we want him I think we need to use Pick 36. I can see a North, WB or Essendon getting in before us.

Yes, but Manson is exciting and was averaging 8 goals a game!

Majak was just exciting and athletic without the runs on the board

edit - i dont think we will get him after 36 tbh, port seem keen and will use there pick in the 40's on him imo

I believe if this guy is as good as we think he is-- then pick him up at 36. He definatey seems to have the goods,Look at what has happened to Franklin!

Yes, it depends very much if any club wants to take him with a selection in the 20s or 30s.

We know he can kick goals if conditions suit but he didn't kick a goal in the next round to last and didn't appear at the weekend when it was wet.

Anyone know why he missed the game?

Leather poisoning.

Hope you are right Robbie. He could be the next Buddy .

Or Luke Molan.

I believe if this guy is as good as we think he is-- then pick him up at 36. He definatey seems to have the goods,Look at what has happened to Franklin!

Franklin went top 5 in the draft of his year.

He is not Franklin. Never will be Franklin. I will bet my life on it.

Franklin went top five for a reason.

This guy is not even considered top 20.

Franklin went top 5 in the draft of his year.

He is not Franklin. Never will be Franklin. I will bet my life on it.

Franklin went top five for a reason.

This guy is not even considered top 20.

yes,yes,yes,possibly

The only reason Manson wouldnt be worth pick 20 or 30 is because of some of the difficulties players coming from such remote area's face, in terms of responsibilities, metropolitan living and expectations on there footballing.

Not to mention close relationships they will have with existing family groups,

Or Luke Molan.

I am so glad that you had the opportunity to see Luke Molan in AFL senior action so as to be able to asses his capabilities or otherwise.

Nobody I know had that opportunity.

Was this before he broke his leg in his first preseason, or when he re-broke it, or when he did his shoulder in his VFL comeback?

It must be very easy, but only of course when one is an expert, to be hyper-critical of someone who due to freak impact injuries never had a chance to show his wares to the rest of us!

I am so glad that you had the opportunity to see Luke Molan in AFL senior action so as to be able to asses his capabilities or otherwise.

Nobody I know had that opportunity.

Was this before he broke his leg in his first preseason, or when he re-broke it, or when he did his shoulder in his VFL comeback?

It must be very easy, but only of course when one is an expert, to be hyper-critical of someone who due to freak impact injuries never had a chance to show his wares to the rest of us!

He didnt re break it, he did his ACL and Shoulder in the one incident. Was not doing much up until then, writing was on the wall that was a terrible pick

He didnt re break it, he did his ACL and Shoulder in the one incident. Was not doing much up until then, writing was on the wall that was a terrible pick

multiple freak injuries dont make bad picks, untalented players make bad picks, and you cannot comment on Luke Molans talent.

multiple freak injuries dont make bad picks, untalented players make bad picks, and you cannot comment on Luke Molans talent.

agreed

Thought the Manson fans might like this write up in Knightmare's latest phantom on Bigfooty.

#36 Melbourne – Zyrus Waylen Manson (WA – KPF)

Height: 195cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 24/04/1993

Recruited from: Claremont

Style:

Player comparison: Liam Jurrah

Range: 10-rookie

Profile: The talent is there as is the production which makes Manson a deserving 1st round prospect but the question is will he go this high and will teams take the risk? On talent outshone Brendan Fevola in the NTFL and has consistently bought home big bags of goals which makes him a very intriguing prospect. Has a massive running vertical jump as his draft combine score would indicate, as well as this he has long arms which mean that because he takes his marks at the highest point, he can take just about everything that comes in his general direction which is his big weapon, and he takes it beyond a level we have seen at any level frankly. Ability to take over games like probably no other talent in this draft outside of maybe Patton. But doesn’t yet understand team structures, and hasn’t played much serious team football so it is a big time high risk, high reward selection because he could be anything if he can apply himself, but could also become nothing very quickly. As a forward is pretty selfish with his play and when he gets it – mostly through taking a grab up forward, just goes for goal, handballing isn’t in his dictionary and plays selfishly. Goal kicking technique could do with some work, set shots look iffy and needs to develop consistancy. Defensively allot of work needed and doesn’t currently chase or tackle. So very much an unfinished product and there are allot of areas where he needs to improve, but what Manson can do, he does to a whole new level. Also there is the go home factor. But don’t let any of this put you off, Manson is the best talent in this draft. Period. Why I say this is because he not only has the talent, but has the proven production to back it up.

Personally I'm not sold, he has some great attributes but plenty of flaws to his game. We do seem to be doing our homework though by all accounts, so if we do pick him I'll be satisfied that BP, MN et al know what they're doing.

BP has pretty good form the last few years with picks in the 30's and beyond. Howe 33, Davis 50 and McDonald 53 last year, Gawn 34, and Fitzpatrick 50 in 2009 and Bennell 35, Jetta 51 and Bail 64 in 2008. Can't complain about that strike rate.

Franklin went top 5 in the draft of his year.

He is not Franklin. Never will be Franklin. I will bet my life on it.

Franklin went top five for a reason.

This guy is not even considered top 20.

Firstly, I would never,ever bet my life on anything.But this kid could be a freak.In listening to Shifter Sheehan on SEN this morning,I stick to my original statements on him