On the radar (afl.com) - under 18's prospects

[Hannibal 5,814]

I'm nearly always in the camp that you get can a decent ruck via the Rookie Draft, such as Jolly, Jamar, Cox, Sandi, etc, but occasionally there's a top end talent that is worthy of drafting early and Grundy is one of those. He looks a serious gun. I love his aggression, height and he can rest forward and kick goals. I'd love him at the Dees and as Oucher says there are question marks over plenty of our rucks. It's just a pity we have a greater need for quality mids.

Stringer is the one that fascinates me. The guy is a 191cm beast, but I don't know enough about him. Obviously he's coming back from a broken leg and is down on fitness, but prior to the injury apparently the raps were huge, And what I saw in the last game of the champs peaked my interest. He seems to be a forward/mid, as opposed to a mid that can go forward. Either way he's a prospect that I find interesting.

[GRUN DEE 69]

I'm nearly always in the camp that you get can a decent ruck via the Rookie Draft, such as Jolly, Jamar, Cox, Sandi, etc, but occasionally there's a top end talent that is worthy of drafting early and Grundy is one of those. He looks a serious gun. I love his aggression, height and he can rest forward and kick goals. I'd love him at the Dees and as Oucher says there are question marks over plenty of our rucks. It's just a pity we have a greater need for quality mids.

Stringer is the one that fascinates me. The guy is a 191cm beast, but I don't know enough about him. Obviously he's coming back from a broken leg and is down on fitness, but prior to the injury apparently the raps were huge, And what I saw in the last game of the champs peaked my interest. He seems to be a forward/mid, as opposed to a mid that can go forward. Either way he's a prospect that I find interesting.

+1

Grundy's inclusion would go a far way in helping change Melbourne's culture in the way we play.

I feel a fit Stringer could be a damaging and difficult to match up on. Broken leg yes. But Judd and Selwood had injury issues. We havnt seen nowhere near his best yet. But is a player we need.

Our Pick 3 should be off limits for Grundy if he gets that far! Not your average ruckman.

[John Dee 445]

It will be fascinating to see where Viney ends up. We will pick him with whatever pick that we have to. He is worth pick 3 but may slip to 24. There are too many intangibles, father legend at the club, brother Max, Billy Stretch etc for us to pass on him.

The thing that really irks me is that this whole situation is of the AFL's making. They put us into a situation whereby we had to commit to Jack twelve months before we would normally have to stop GWS from claiming him as a 17 year old. When we floated the idea of doing a deal with GWS or GC not to bid on him, Calamity Adrian publically warned us about draft tampering. Is he going to say anything about GWS of GC bidding on Viney because it is a free hit? Of course he won't but that will be a far greater case of draft tampering.

[thaipantsman 180]

are you guys all on lunch break or what? Calm down Jose!

[John Dee 445]

Our Pick 3 should be off limits for Grundy if he gets that far! Not your average ruckman.

Paul Roos on On the Couch some time ago said that, when he was at Syney they had a hard and fast policy of NEVER spending an early pick on ruckmen or tall players generally. He said that it was just too fraught with danger and that you had to wait until they were about 22-24 before you could really judge them.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Sound strategy in the main.

[Redleg 41,431]

Can't see any reason why a guy like Grundy if drafted by us can't be another big key forward, as well as rucking some of the time. He appears similar to Clark and he has been successful up forward. I don't think however that he will be there at our pick, as I believe he is the boy GWS want and need. If we maintain our current ladder position I would let it be known we are interested. GWS would then have something to think about before trying to derail us with JV. That said, we clearly need mids.

Anyway I think we will do a deal with GWS for an Under 17 player and the JV issue will be moot as far as GWS is concerned. I don't think that GC are a vindictive club.

The main issue is that we maintain our current ladder position.

[ChaserJ 5,157]

Inside football’s Brett Anderson’s mock draft. Would be rapped to get those players. He does throw up some interesting scenarios surrounding ladder positioning and mini draft trades. He also believes we are firmly into Jesse Hogan.

http://www.insidefootballonline.com/feature.html

[Axis of Bob 11,844]

Stringer is the one that fascinates me. The guy is a 191cm beast, but I don't know enough about him. Obviously he's coming back from a broken leg and is down on fitness, but prior to the injury apparently the raps were huge, And what I saw in the last game of the champs peaked my interest. He seems to be a forward/mid, as opposed to a mid that can go forward. Either way he's a prospect that I find interesting.

Yep, Stringer is one that seems like he could be pretty special. He's a risk, due to injury, and he's not performing at the moment, but he's got some real talent and is a 6'3/4 midfielder with genuine strength and power. It depends on how much of a risk we are willing to take to possibly get a superstar. I'm keen (at the moment) but I'd love to see more of him through the year. Players like him don't grow on trees, so sometimes you just have to take the risk.

If we take him early then we'd probably have to go pretty safe with the other early pick though. It's one thing to get a good player and then strike out with the other, but it's something else to miss with both of them.

[old dee 23,872]

Can't see any reason why a guy like Grundy if drafted by us can't be another big key forward, as well as rucking some of the time. He appears similar to Clark and he has been successful up forward. I don't think however that he will be there at our pick, as I believe he is the boy GWS want and need. If we maintain our current ladder position I would let it be known we are interested. GWS would then have something to think about before trying to derail us with JV. That said, we clearly need mids.

Anyway I think we will do a deal with GWS for an Under 17 player and the JV issue will be moot as far as GWS is concerned. I don't think that GC are a vindictive club.

The main issue is that we maintain our current ladder position.

Redleg you keep saying that as if we are likely to rise higher.

Port is direct above us they are 2 wins and 18% ahead the Dogs are 3 wins +%

The best I can see for the Dees is GWS and CGS wins even though they might be big margins we would not bridge the 18% gap.

If as I expect Port beat us in Darwin it is all over.

To get ahead of the Dogs we need four wins to there nil.

I think we are as safe as houses to finish third last.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Yep, Stringer is one that seems like he could be pretty special. He's a risk, due to injury, and he's not performing at the moment, but he's got some real talent and is a 6'3/4 midfielder with genuine strength and power. It depends on how much of a risk we are willing to take to possibly get a superstar. I'm keen (at the moment) but I'd love to see more of him through the year. Players like him don't grow on trees, so sometimes you just have to take the risk.

If we take him early then we'd probably have to go pretty safe with the other early pick though. It's one thing to get a good player and then strike out with the other, but it's something else to miss with both of them.

Yes, his DC results will be interesting, although measured against his recent fitness issues.

I know nothing of Plowman, who they have at pick 4, but I don't know whether a rebounding key defender is our most pressing issue. The idea of getting Toumpas, Stringer, Mayes and Viney makes me a little weak at the knees.

[Redleg 41,431]

Redleg you keep saying that as if we are likely to rise higher.

Port is direct above us they are 2 wins and 18% ahead the Dogs are 3 wins +%

The best I can see for the Dees is GWS and CGS wins even though they might be big margins we would not bridge the 18% gap.

If as I expect Port beat us in Darwin it is all over.

To get ahead of the Dogs we need four wins to there nil.

I think we are as safe as houses to finish third last.

Not necessarily. If the dogs cop a few beltings and we beat GC and GWS by handy margins the 14 % between us and the dogs will go. Another win to us and we are above them. Therefore the only certainty is no more than 2 more wins to us and losing the Port clash.

[640MD 3,429]

Not necessarily. If the dogs cop a few beltings and we beat GC and GWS by handy margins the 14 % between us and the dogs will go. Another win to us and we are above them. Therefore the only certainty is no more than 2 more wins to us and losing the Port clash.

Ground Hog Day !

[jurrahcane 70]

Yes, his DC results will be interesting, although measured against his recent fitness issues.

I know nothing of Plowman, who they have at pick 4, but I don't know whether a rebounding key defender is our most pressing issue. The idea of getting Toumpas, Stringer, Mayes and Viney makes me a little weak at the knees.

Update - Jake Stringer - 4 goals and 2nd best for Bendigo U18's.

Watch this space... he could be very special (pick 4 for me)

[BIG JIM 508]

Update - Jake Stringer - 4 goals and 2nd best for Bendigo U18's.

Watch this space... he could be very special (pick 4 for me)

He is one of my mates cousin and is by all reports a gun.

He would also be the number 1 draft pick if he did not break his leg.

This kid would well and truely be worth the risk at pick 4 after Toumpas.

I hope we take the kid he would be ready to go day 1 with his body.

[Axis of Bob 11,844]

I hope we take the kid he would be ready to go day 1 with his body.

But probably not with his running. He's a big unit, but he'll need quite a bit of conditioning before he's AFL fit.

But looks to be a super prospect.

[BIG JIM 508]

But probably not with his running. He's a big unit, but he'll need quite a bit of conditioning before he's AFL fit.

But looks to be a super prospect.

I think he is pretty fit now his back playing in the TAC cup not AFL level but thats the same for all these kids coming through.

I think 12 to 16 games in a first year is great for any first year player.

His body is very strong for a young man and will be a very strong man in 3 years time.

Well worth a good look.

Could be the star we are looking for and will not have to listen to the fans saying why are we getting all these skinny kids.

[jurrahcane 70]

He is one of my mates cousin and is by all reports a gun.

He would also be the number 1 draft pick if he did not break his leg.

This kid would well and truely be worth the risk at pick 4 after Toumpas.

I hope we take the kid he would be ready to go day 1 with his body.

agreed - worth the risk for MFC. Memo - get Jake Stringer

[Jordie_tackles 354]

From Jason Phelan from afl.com.au

I have sorted into likely draft pick availability for MFC

pick 3 and 4

Brodie Grundy, Sturt, 15 April 1994, 202cm, 100kg

Grundy was an All-Australian as a bottom-aged player last year and has continued to develop to the point where he is clearly the premier ruck prospect in the draft. He was the dominant ruckman at the champs, earning All Australian honours again, and impressed with his mobility and athleticism. He can go forward and kick a goal and doesn't mind throwing around his big frame in a contest.

Oliver Wines, Bendigo Pioneers, 7 October 1994, 185cm, 83kg

Wines' inside game is perfectly suited to the direction that AFL footy has taken in recent seasons.He averaged 24 possessions over the carnival, the majority of which were usually contested, and also impressed with his willingness to spread away from the contest.

Troy Menzel, Central Districts, 22 September 1994, 186cm, 77kg

Menzel, the brother of Geelong's Daniel, is one of the puzzles of this draft.He followed up a nine-goal bag against Tasmania with another six against the Northern Territory, is strong overhead and gets to the right positions inside attacking 50, but he underwent a LARS knee reconstruction as a 16-year-old. He has talent to burn, but will doubts on the synthetic ligament harm his standing in the draft order? He has absolute confidence in the surgery and should prove too tempting for a team to pass up in the first round.

Jake Stringer, Bendigo Pioneers, 25 April 1994, 191cm, 91kg

Stringer is a forward in a similar mould to Membrey, but he has a few more strings to his bow at this stage. He's very hard to place in terms of his draft ranking as he badly broke his left leg in the first TAC Cup game last year and is still shaking off the effects of that injury. If his work ethic during his rehab is any guide, his draft credentials will only be enhanced in the back half of the Pioneers' season.

Jimmy Toumpas, Woodville-West Torrens, 2 January 1994, 183cm, 77kg

The South Australian skipper is one of the blue-chip prospects of this draft who could have at least been a part of the conversation about the No.1 pick if he'd had a free run at the back half of the season. But, the classy midfielder has managed sore hips for the past 18 months and will go in for season-ending surgery after the champs. He can play in multiple positions and has already made his mark for Woodville-West Torrens at senior level in their run to last year's SANFL flag.

Sam Mayes, North Adelaide, 20 May 1994, 187cm, 78kg

Mayes is probably one to watch when he gets back with SANFL team North Adelaide. He was the All Australian centre half-forward as a bottom-ager last year, but had a quieter carnival this time around. He showed glimpses of what he's capable of at times - he kicked a brilliant goal from the boundary down in Geelong - and has undoubted class, but will be keen for a big finish with the Roosters.

Pick 13

Dayle Garlett, Swan Districts, 9 January 1994, 180cm, 75kg

By his own admission, the quietly spoken midfielder had some work to do with some off-field issues late last year, but all the reports coming out of WA and Swan Districts since then have been positive. His game-changing combination of speed, ability to run and carry and goal sense saw him earn All Australian honours.

Ben Kennedy, Glenelg, 3 March 1994, 174cm, 76kg

Kennedy is a quick, busy onballer who is a thumping kick off his left boot. He averaged 26 possessions across the champs and kicked four goals against Tasmania on his way to a second All Australian selection.

Sam Colquhoun, Central Districts, 20 December 1994, 179cm, 72kg

Colquhoun is a small defender who gets a stack of the ball coming out of the back half. He averaged 28 possessions for SA and provided plenty of rebound for the Croweaters. Not many of his possessions are contested, but his value in launching forward thrusts with great precision saw him named in the All Australian team.

Nick Vlastuin, Northern Knights, 19 April 1994, 187cm, 83kg

The Vic Metro skipper played predominantly off a half-back flank at the championships and impressed with his hard-nosed approach to the contest. He's not the quickest player on the park, but he reads the play well, which allows him to get into the right spots. Distributes the ball well and was named in the All Australian team.

Lachlan Plowman, Calder Cannons, 11 September 1994, 191cm, 86kg

Plowman is the only player in the top 25 not to appear in the national carnival. He suffered a serious elbow injury in the weeks leading up to the championships, but is widely considered one of the premier key position prospects in this draft. He appeared in the best players in four of his five games for the Cannons and is one to watch on his return to the TAC Cup.

pick 24

Taylor Garner, Dandenong Stingrays, 8 Jan 94, 186cm, 77kg

Garner nearly provided this carnival's Hayden Crozier moment at Subiaco, but just failed to hang onto what would have been a special mark against WA. In addition to his strength overhead, Garner can win the contested ball, which saw him named in this year's All Australian team.

Jonathan O'Rourke, Calder Cannons, 21 April 1994, 183cm, 75kg

O'Rourke is a very balanced midfielder, who makes good decisions and is an excellent kick. He ticks a lot of boxes as far as recruiters are concerned and earned All Australian honours for a very consistent championships.

and of course wherever we need to take him

Jack Viney, Oakleigh Chargers, 13 April 1994, 178cm, 80kg

Viney played the last two games of the carnival after recovering from the broken jaw he suffered in his first game in the VFL and showed why he'll be an asset for Melbourne right off the bat. He has a combative streak and the hardness to match, but he has more than brute force in his bag of tricks and should see AFL action early next year

for me ... #3 Toumpas (Whitfield & Grundy 1 & 2), #4 Stringer , #13 Kennedy and #24 Viney (F/s)

Ideally from this i would go, Grundy, Toumpas, Plowman (wont be there at 13), Viney (lucky to see him at 24)

More likely, Viney, Toumpas, Vlastuin, O'Rouke,

Both are amazing cercumstances, O'rouke at 24 is probably a bit to far though

Edited July 19, 2012 by Jordie_tackles