CHANGES 2011 - HELLO by The Oracle

Last week's 2011 AFL National Draft was, as expected, a showpiece for the AFL's new franchise, the Greater Western Sydney Giants. For those of us who viewed the event on Foxtel, our screens were awash with the unfamiliar charcoal and orange colours of the new club, Kevin Sheedy seemed not only to be everywhere but he was almost embarrassed by the excessive amount of exposure he was receiving. They even trotted out Israel Folau for an unnecessary interview.

Unfortunately, I don't have a wide screen television receiver so I missed out on GWS's giant sized, expensive new recruiting guru but, given that I do attend the odd TAC Cup game or two, we'll no doubt bump into each other some time soon. I've even increased my private health cover for precisely that eventuality.

At some stage in the transmission, viewers were let in on the well kept secret that there were another 17 AFL clubs that also had personnel in attendance with a mission to draft players for their teams and finally, thanks mainly to the information flashed at the bottom of our screens while the Foxtel panel persisted with their interminable interviews of pimply-faced GWS draftees, we learned that Melbourne selected Rory Taggert (pick 36), Josh Tynan (52) and James Sellar (54).

None of the above were as well known or as fashionable in drafting circles as the young bucks being interviewed on our television sets. Indeed, the first reaction of my companion who was watching the draft unfold when Taggart was selected was, "Rory, who!"

At least we knew something of strongly built former Crow, Sellar, who was considered a potential top three pick at one stage leading up to the 2006 AFL draft but slid to 14 after a bout of illness late that season. He was recently delisted by Adelaide after five disappointing seasons that yielded only 21 AFL games.

For the edification of everyone, here are the  Herald Sun AFL National Draft Profiles of Melbourne's selections:-

36. RORY TAGGERT

Age: 18

Height: 188cm 

Weight: 87kg

From: North Ballarat Rebels

A medium-sized forward who won’t be beaten in the air and rarely misses. Knocks were endurance and work ethic but in an AFL system expected to flourish. Think Mark LeCras.

52. JOSH TYNAN

Age: 18

Height: 185cm

Weight: 76kg

From: Gippsland Power

Position: Defender

Composed and strong overhead, Tynan can play on talls and smalls and provides run and drive from defence.

54. JAMES SELLAR

Age: 22

Height: 196cm

Weight: 98kg

From: Adelaide

A ruckman/key position who played 21 games with Crows before being delisted at the end of the 2011 season. Originally taken at pick No.14 in the 2006 AFL Draft.

The jigsaw puzzle will be completed in about ten day's time when the club will select four rookies to add to its lists which currently appear like this:-

PRIMARY LIST:

Rohan Bail Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Jamie Bennell Sam Blease Mitch Clark Lucas Cook Aaron Davey Troy Davis Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick James Frawley Colin Garland Max Gawn Jack Grimes Jordan Gysberts Jeremy Howe Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Nathan Jones Liam Jurrah Joel Macdonald Stefan Martin Tom McDonald Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney Cale Morton Ricky Petterd Jared Rivers James Sellar Jake Spencer James Strauss Colin Sylvia Rory Taggert Luke Tapscott Jack Trengove Josh Tynan Jack Watts 

VETERAN LIST: Brad Green

ROOKIE LIST:

Michael Evans Kelvin Lawrence Dan Nicholson plus four rookie draft selections

I'm pretty certain it was Taggert I saw described elsewhere (possibly Real Footy?) as Dustin Martin-like; a player I would have thought is very different to LeCras.

Emma Quayle has an article in todays 'Age' ranking the value picks in the draft. None of our selections get a guernsey.

We've also picked 3 right footers - damn! And none of our selections are tagged as 'super quick'.

We've put a lot of our eggs into Mitch Clark's basket, but If we had not traded for Clark, we could have wasted our number 12 pick as there was a real shortage of good quality tall men in this draft.

No 12 went to Sam Docherty - a 185cm 83kg defender. The next player over 190 cm selected in the draft was Henry Schade - a 196cm 81kg defender way down at pick 24. I don't believe we could could have selected a player of comparable quality to Clark at pick 12; nor one who immediately fills our needs.

If any of our four selections can go on to play >150 games for the MFC, I'll be rapt. i just hope it is Mitch Clark.

CHANGES 2011 - HELLO by The Oracle

The jigsaw puzzle will be completed in about ten day's time when the club will select four rookies to add to its lists which currently appear like this:-

Shouldn't this information have been recorded on the no T$ no BS thread elsewhere on the site?

Also, will the trend continue in the rookie draft of picking bigger bodied players or will we go for some smaller types?

Emma Quayle has an article in todays 'Age' ranking the value picks in the draft. None of our selections get a guernsey.

We've also picked 3 right footers - damn! And none of our selections are tagged as 'super quick'.

We've put a lot of our eggs into Mitch Clark's basket, but If we had not traded for Clark, we could have wasted our number 12 pick as there was a real shortage of good quality tall men in this draft.

No 12 went to Sam Docherty - a 185cm 83kg defender. The next player over 190 cm selected in the draft was Henry Schade - a 196cm 81kg defender way down at pick 24. I don't believe we could could have selected a player of comparable quality to Clark at pick 12; nor one who immediately fills our needs.

If any of our four selections can go on to play >150 games for the MFC, I'll be rapt. i just hope it is Mitch Clark.

Ah, we can get some Lefties next year. A whole clump of 'em...

Ah, we can get some Lefties next year. A whole clump of 'em...

Is that the official collective term for left-handers? A clump?

Is that the official collective term for left-handers? A clump?

Nah. He meant to say sinistral or mancin

Edited November 29, 201114 yr by daisycutter

Nah. He meant to say sinistral or mancin

Actually there is no collective noun for lefties (sinistralists and mancinists are just names for lefties not really collectives)

However if you were to invent one then.......

Historically the left hand was associated with bodily functions so "a Sanitation of Lefthanders"?....or

Historically the left hand was also associated with evil or the devil so "a Coven of Lefthanders"?

BTW and this is true the collective noun for Demons is "an Inquisition of Demons"

I know, I know .....it is the off season but

Actually there is no collective noun for lefties (sinistralists and mancinists are just names for lefties not really collectives)

However if you were to invent one then.......

Historically the left hand was associated with bodily functions so "a Sanitation of Lefthanders"?....or

Historically the left hand was also associated with evil or the devil so "a Coven of Lefthanders"?

BTW and this is true the collective noun for Demons is "an Inquisition of Demons"

I know, I know .....it is the off season but

We have had plenty of those over the years DC

I just want this on the record this early

After having watched the interview with Aaron Greaves, I believe he will take over from Mark Neeld in 10 years time.

He started his coaching under Neeld and will go through a grooming/ mentorship period so that after Neeld has served the club for the best part of a decade and taken us to multiple flags (why not??) he will take over and lead us for a decade more ...

 

It also feels good to see alot of young excited athletic coaches instead of the paunch tucked into the track pants, Sheedy-esque style clip board coaches. I believe nathan jones even knocked a couple on the arses; Sheeds would break his hip

 

This stability will allow solid short-term and long-term planning for game plan and player development.

More Collective Noun Trivia (a few are ficticious - can you pick them?)

An Inquisition of Demons

A Clowder or Glaring of Cats

A Swift or Ambush of Tigers

A Kettle or Cast of Hawks

A Tidings or Filth of Magpies

A Mob of Kangaroos

A Congregation of Saints

A Rhythm or Scum of Blues

A Pack or Kennel of Bulldogs

A Squadron, Flight, Wing or Fleet of Bombers

A Pride of Lions

A Galaxy of Suns

A Bevy, Lamentation, Wedge or Herd of Swans

A Cesspit, Asylum or Percussion of Giants

A Joke or Abuse of Power

A Murder or Storytelling of Crows

A Crew or Vacuum of Dockers

An Aerie or Convocation of Eagles

A Conspiracy of AFL Executives

Edited November 30, 201114 yr by daisycutter

I just want this on the record this early

After having watched the interview with Aaron Greaves, I believe he will take over from Mark Neeld in 10 years time.

He started his coaching under Neeld and will go through a grooming/ mentorship period so that after Neeld has served the club for the best part of a decade and taken us to multiple flags (why not??) he will take over and lead us for a decade more ...

It also feels good to see alot of young excited athletic coaches instead of the paunch tucked into the track pants, Sheedy-esque style clip board coaches. I believe nathan jones even knocked a couple on the arses; Sheeds would break his hip

This stability will allow solid short-term and long-term planning for game plan and player development.

Greaves is certainly very active in proceedings at training, starting drills, etc. From what I've seen he has the players attention. Knows exactly what is required from first impressions.

Is that the official collective term for left-handers? A clump?

Yep, you've gotta dig 'em up & root 'em out... LoL.

Ah, we can get some Lefties next year. A whole clump of 'em...

Well we've got at least one coming....

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/tabid/8667/contentid/407510/default.aspx

Well we've got at least one coming....

http://www.melbourne...10/default.aspx

Eggsactly! C'Mon Toddy. Get back to work mate.

His boy will lead the Charge of the Left Brigade!