Toumpas is probably going to be a very good footballer but he's got hip problems that may or may not be an ongoing issue, so I would prefer we take Wines who, at this stage appears to be injury free. AFL is a tough gig now and Wines appears ready to handle it.

Would we overlook the next Judd or Selwood ect for the same reason? both injured during their draft years? I think Toumpas is a better player than Wines, can play inside even though his inside game is not really pushed as a strong point and is damaging on the outside with pace skill and on the score board.

My IT person radar just went ballistic.

don't panic nasher, just an old unit record man

Toumpas' hip operations were precautionary. They were to remove spurs from the ball of the femur to reduce wear on the socket in the pelvis, especially the cartledge. The spurs themselves are naturally accouring and quite common; however most people won't be subjecting their body to the extreme physical demands of an AFL footballer.

Numerous other young players have also had the same operation, including Tapscott.

bring on the toumpas - consistently regarded as top 3 and exactly what we need in class and pace

bring on the toumpas - consistently regarded as top 3 and exactly what we need in class and pace

If only it was that easy

I seem to remember a certain TS being the no.1 pick by a mile not looking to flash now.

TS was just an elaborate ruse, thought up in the vault, to get Toumpas, Hogan and Barry.

I'd say our recruitment department don't get the plaudits on that pickup that they deserve.

;-)

For mine it's quite obvious which is the easy choice to make. Ollie Wines may be a brilliant talent but Jimmy T fills a whole heap of needs for the MFC. We lack any midfield class, other than Jones and potentially Sylvia if he plays there we have absolutely no goal kicking mids. When Collingwoods forwards struggled this year, their midfielders picked up the slack and provided the class. Toumpas reminds me of Beams in a way, he's very much an outside player but when he needs to get contested ball he can and he is just a bonafide finisher.

Melbournes smallest issue last year was contested footy. Im quite confused as to whu everyones opinion is that we so desperately need tough ball winners. We have a top 50 in the league hard ball winner and now the best inside mid in the draft. We actually won the contested ball on countless occasions but it was the spread and uncontested that we struggled at. We've added J.Viney who will increase that mdfield hard ball but we NEED someone to run and spread. As mentioned Wines will be fantastic but Toumpas if available would just hit so many more of our needs.

For mine it's quite obvious which is the easy choice to make. Ollie Wines may be a brilliant talent but Jimmy T fills a whole heap of needs for the MFC. We lack any midfield class, other than Jones and potentially Sylvia if he plays there we have absolutely no goal kicking mids. When Collingwoods forwards struggled this year, their midfielders picked up the slack and provided the class. Toumpas reminds me of Beams in a way, he's very much an outside player but when he needs to get contested ball he can and he is just a bonafide finisher.

Melbournes smallest issue last year was contested footy. Im quite confused as to whu everyones opinion is that we so desperately need tough ball winners. We have a top 50 in the league hard ball winner and now the best inside mid in the draft. We actually won the contested ball on countless occasions but it was the spread and uncontested that we struggled at. We've added J.Viney who will increase that mdfield hard ball but we NEED someone to run and spread. As mentioned Wines will be fantastic but Toumpas if available would just hit so many more of our needs.

We need in Pick 4 a fantastic mid.

We need an in/out mid with dynamism and confidence.

Should we not be in a position to get that then go for the ball winner as opposed to the outside runner.

I think that sums up where people's heads are at.

TS was just an elaborate ruse, thought up in the vault, to get Toumpas, Hogan and Barry.

I'd say our recruitment department don't get the plaudits on that pickup that they deserve.

;-)

gee mate you should start writing movie scripts.

That is an academy award winning story.

Brilliant and we all know you have to take the long view.

I reckon we get the vault crew on to the middle east problem.

It should all be fine by 2016.

Toumpas is probably going to be a very good footballer but he's got hip problems that may or may not be an ongoing issue, so I would prefer we take Wines who, at this stage appears to be injury free. AFL is a tough gig now and Wines appears ready to handle it.

As opposed to a player like Tapscott, who came to the club largely injury-free?

Grimes?

Or a player like Gumbleton or Molan, who came into their clubs injury free, but couldn't ever get on the park?

Surely the medicos would give him the once over & we'd be fully informed.

If his hips were a problem, we'd be hearing stories similar to Troy Menzel or Elliot Kavanagh, or even the furphies we heard about Dyson Heppel.

Then you get a Joel Selwood or Judd that came in injury riddled, yet have missed precious few AFL games.

Not a consideration for me.

As opposed to a player like Tapscott, who came to the club largely injury-free?

Grimes?

Or a player like Gumbleton or Molan, who came into their clubs injury free, but couldn't ever get on the park?

Surely the medicos would give him the once over & we'd be fully informed.

If his hips were a problem, we'd be hearing stories similar to Troy Menzel or Elliot Kavanagh, or even the furphies we heard about Dyson Heppel.

Then you get a Joel Selwood or Judd that came in injury riddled, yet have missed precious few AFL games.

Not a consideration for me.

...and why I wouldn't rule out Stringer.

Must say I'd prefer wines over toumpas

...and why I wouldn't rule out Stringer.

No no no no no no no.

No.

He is not just a player who has suffered some injuries requiring surgery.

He has had an horrific injury, then complications, and now has an "atrocious" running gait, as described by a recruiter.

Mitch Thorp basket for Stringer.

When we NEED a midfield star, we can't afford to take risks with those types.

No no no no no no no.

No.

He is not just a player who has suffered some injuries requiring surgery.

He has had an horrific injury, then complications, and now has an "atrocious" running gait, as described by a recruiter.

Mitch Thorp basket for Stringer.

When we NEED a midfield star, we can't afford to take risks with those types.

I would have thought Thorp was not a good comparison at all. A key forward who had problems adjusting to playing AFL football.

The same mythical recruiter also said Judd's shoulders weren't up to AFL conditions, Darling was a head case who would ruin a club's culture, Selwood's knees were gone....listening to a recruiter around draft time is like relying on a trainers tip for the cup.

I wouldn't expect us to take Stringer if we don't get a decent medical report but his upside is huge as a mid and rotation forward, particularly when the AFL bring in capped interchange. We need some tall mids with grunt and class you can't have a bunch of sub 180cm mids resting forward at the same time.

I would have thought Thorp was not a good comparison at all. A key forward who had problems adjusting to playing AFL football.

The same mythical recruiter also said Judd's shoulders weren't up to AFL conditions, Darling was a head case who would ruin a club's culture, Selwood's knees were gone....listening to a recruiter around draft time is like relying on a trainers tip for the cup.

I wouldn't expect us to take Stringer if we don't get a decent medical report but his upside is huge as a mid and rotation forward, particularly when the AFL bring in capped interchange. We need some tall mids with grunt and class you can't have a bunch of sub 180cm mids resting forward at the same time.

A player with pre-existing injury issues that he lied about pre-draft, and despite his talent, prevented him from ever getting on the park.

He also was reportedly a fair d&@#head.

A player with pre-existing injury issues that he lied about pre-draft, and despite his talent, prevented him from ever getting on the park.

He also was reportedly a fair d&@#head.

Wasn't aware about the pre draft lies was aware of him being a fair dh.

Stringer's injury issues are well known, don't know if he is a DH or not but he can play. Given he gets a medical clearance, discount this years performances due to recovery from injury then he makes for a good prospect.

It's good reading and debate this whole drafting biz but in the end I hope that the club have it right and will make good decisions, as supporters I guess we have reason not to trust those decisions due to recent failures. New crew in charge, change in direction at the club, the proof will come over the next few seasons.

No to Stringer. Would be happy with Toumpas or Wines although i acknowledge we need speed, we need disposal accuracy more. Lots of inside midfielders wont change much, we need running class.

I have invested emotionally already with this kid but that is irrational, if it is Toumpas, it is Toumpas. Got to go for the classy leader who can find his own footy.

Look forward to watching this kid though, even if it is going to be at another club.

Emma Qualyle doesn't have Wines in her top 23.

Just sayin....

Emma Qualyle doesn't have Wines in her top 23.

Just sayin....

No 7 to PAFC

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-2012-afl-national-draft-20121121-29qfq.html

If only it was that easy

I seem to remember a certain TS being the no.1 pick by a mile not looking to flash now.

So what does that tell you?

For all diatribe on this site about how could recruiters get it so wrong and if only we picked x instead of y - the only certainty that remains is that this is not an exact science and there are lots of top 10 picks who have failed to live up to expectation.

In my mind, when I hear Hawthorn and StKilda supporters say "yeah - Judd is good but we are really happy with Hodge/Ball" - they are kidding themselves - Judd has been so far ahead of those two it just aint funny.

The Watts/NikNat debate is legitimate as they were almost touted as equal no 1 draft choices so a decision had to be made but Scully was so far ahead of the pack as the number one pick that there not a millimetre of room for debate. All those saying we got it wrong with Scully are hindsighting to the extreme as there was zero chance of him not going no 1 to our club or any other.

No guarantees in drafting, people - no guarantees

Emma Qualyle doesn't have Wines in her top 23.

Just sayin....

Just making it up?

theres obviously not much difference between Wines and Toumpas, yet Wines is screaming at us to draft him, the kid looks like a smaller version of Nathan Buckley, the other kids from SA, and hes got hip problems, we already got Hogan from WA, maybe they should take the Victorian, hopefully Wines and Viney can turn our culture around, i dont mind recruiting kids from interstate but to use both pick 3 and 4 on them is stupid, like alot supporterts these days i have no faith that they will get it rite.

theres obviously not much difference between Wines and Toumpas, yet Wines is screaming at us to draft him, the kid looks like a smaller version of Nathan Buckley, the other kids from SA, and hes got hip problems, we already got Hogan from WA, maybe they should take the Victorian, hopefully Wines and Viney can turn our culture around, i dont mind recruiting kids from interstate but to use both pick 3 and 4 on them is stupid, like alot supporterts these days i have no faith that they will get it rite.

First of all - I am not the spelling police but "no faith that they will get it rite" did tickle my irony meter.

This interstate go home thing is now a nonsense.

Free agency doesnt allow unrestricted movement until a decent amount of time has been served.

So after two year or three year contract expires, if a player says I want to go home, the club can basically say no. It is up to us to trade him if we want or unless the players homestate club has first pick in the PSD, take his chances that no one else will take him. Mitch Brown of WCE said he wanted to go home was contracted and the WCE said no. Next year he may say the same but if GC and GWS are bottom two then if opts out then thats where he may end up.

That's why Mitch Clark who wanted to go home didnt get there and the same goes for Tippett.

Players are only getting home now through the good grace of the club - ie StKilda and Cripps.

It is up to our club to make players want to stay

Emma Qualyle doesn't have Wines in her top 23.

Just sayin....

I like your style Jnrmac - if we keep talking Wines down he might slip to pick 48