In case anyone missed it ... Dees clear about Draft

In this pre-draft Q&A, Todd Viney discusses the criteria the club uses for selecting players - the 4 pillars of talent identification:

competitiveness

football talent

physical attributes

character

MB: Do you still look at specific needs at No. 4?

TV: You have an understanding of where your needs fall, so we shouldnt have too much trouble of that talent fitting in at No. 4.

When I talk talent, its not just about who can kick it the best, who can mark it the best or who can handball the best. Weve got four key pillars that we try and identify. When we talk about talent, we talk about all four.

The first pillar is competitiveness - theyve got to be highly competitive - no matter what role they play.

The second one is their football talent. There are football attributes that they have to exhibit in their role - thats how you kick it, catch it, win contested ball or how you win handball receives - depending on how you play.

The third pillar is the physical attributes that you need to play the game of AFL, and they keep becoming more and more demanding. If the rules change again in the future with two [interchange] and two [substitute] players - then they must have the attributes that need to be ticked off.

And the fourth one is character - they need to be able to handle being in an elite environment, and strive to be the best. They need to be a self-starter and be resilient. Its a tough environment, and its not for everyone.

So when we talk talent, its those four things rolled up into one. We just wont take someone because he can kick it better than the next guy. I think there have been way too many mistakes over a long period of time, where people talk about how talent is about how they can kick it or catch it.

All four of those pillars are rolled into one, and thats what were saying talent is.

Worth a read, if you haven't yet.

Read that and was probably one of the only things that made me equivocal about whether we'd take Toumpas over Wines as Ollie seems a hardened competitor. But Jimmy doesnt look bad either, can kick and will fill the hole left by he who will not be named.

A few pundits have Wines dropping down the list if Melbourne does not take him at 4. Which tells me that he is not naturally a number 4 player by talent but by our need. Toumpas is therefore probably the best pick, with Wines going to Brisbane for a couple of years before Melbourne lures him back to join the Dees.

Wow, it's great to see that we finally have someone in charge of recruiting that has a clear direction, and is willing to introduce innovative processes at the club.

I'm pleased to know we're now doing what the other 17 clubs would be doing.

Read that and was probably one of the only things that made me equivocal about whether we'd take Toumpas over Wines as Ollie seems a hardened competitor. But Jimmy doesnt look bad either, can kick and will fill the hole left by he who will not be named.

He who can't kick for...

I know that Todd Viney won't be the sole author of the four principles but the bloke has a calmness and a gentle authority that fills me with a lot of confidence. Have spoken with him a few times.

I love having him back at the club.

There's a lot of talk on here about us drafting Garlett but if you read the 4 Pillars you would have to give him a fail. I think the days of Melbourne taking a punt on some lost soul are over, we need to have every player on the list capable of playing a game of AFL football and we can't have a couple of kids on there just to make us feel good.

Read that and was probably one of the only things that made me equivocal about whether we'd take Toumpas over Wines as Ollie seems a hardened competitor. But Jimmy doesnt look bad either, can kick and will fill the hole left by he who will not be named.

Greek Pillars

Greek Pillars

Whatayamean, do we need 2 more?

Edited November 24, 201212 yr by dee-luded

Greek Pillars

There are only three there: are you suggesting the fourth will become known in future millennia as Toumpasian?

Would Morton, Gysberts and Cook be drafted under the 4 Pillars?

The philosophical differences between this recruiting team and the previous one are striking.

This crew rates the boys more on what is in front of them rather than what they might become, especially in a physical sense.

It seems that we have a footy department that is looking to control all aspects and not leave much to whimsy and luck. Neeld is all about playing the percentages both on and off the field.

Would we draft Watts under the 4 Pillars?

Would we draft Watts under the 4 Pillars?

Probably not, but Nic Nat would have struggled with the 2nd pillar (the ability to play football)

Hartlett at 4 may have filled the criteria, Hurley at 5 would definately be a Neeld pick