Well its obvious we will have another top 3 pick, maybe even number 1.

I know its hard to get excited considering our woeful player development, but its also hard NOT to be excited considering we will have Jesse Hogan plus another elite youngster coming in.

I have been reading highly respected draft guru Knightmares phantom draft at Bifgooty. http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/knightmares-2013-phantom-draft.983436/

Here are his power rankings, if all players (including mini draft picks from last year) were available -

Power Rankings for 2013:

*Potential A-graders*

1. Jesse Hogan (WA - KPF) – Melbourne via minidraft
2. Thomas Boyd (VIC - KPF)
3. Luke McDonald (VIC - UTIL – NM F/S)
4. James Aish (SA - Mid)
5. Jack Martin (WA - Util) – Gold Coast via minidraft
6.Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd)
7.Dominic Sheed (WA – Mid)
8.Nicholas Robertson (WA – Mid)
9. Matt Crouch (VIC - Mid)
10. Jack Billings (VIC – Fwd/Mid)

Here is his top 10, i have changed the team order to something reflecting the probable end of season ladder positions

#1 GWS – James Aish (SA – Mid/Def)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 72kg, DOB: 08/11/1995
Recruited from: Norwood
Style: Trent Cotchin
Player comparison:
Range: 1-3
Profile: Aish is an elite user of the footy and just has more time and space than the next player. In space, in traffic, it doesn’t matter for Aish, he remains composed and never seems rushed. By both hand or foot he consistently uses it well and is one of the more duel sided players you’ll see at this young age. Strong mark overhead for his size and has a strong 1v1 game despite his lean build. Aish is an impressive athlete with an impressive side step and a real burst of speed on him. Still needs to get stronger but that will come. Despite his lean build he is not a soft outside player and is very willing to get his hands dirty and go hard when it’s his turn but is certainly more outside at this stage and likely starts his career on a wing or back flank.

#2 Melbourne – Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 29/01/1995
Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens
Style: Dustin Martin
Player comparison:
Range: 1-5
Profile: Dunstan is a dominant inside midfielder with a really strong body. Really damaging player who will not only win his own footy every time he goes in for it but then will do big damage with it. Dunstan has very damaging footskills and is a really natural finisher anywhere near goal. Not only is Dunstan an exceptional inside player but he can also swing forward, take a mark and hit the scoreboard when given the opportunity and I expect he will continue to be a very damaging player at the next level.

#3 Western Bulldogs – Thomas Boyd (VIC – KPF)
Height: 198cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 22/08/1995
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges
Style: Jonathan Patton
Player comparison:
Range: 1-5
Profile: Dominant key forward. Boyd has had a strong body from a young age. Boyd is a genuine contested marking presence and at u18 level just monsters opposition players through his sheer size advantage. He can really crash packs and do some damage. Overhead he reads it well but then also has sound marking technique taking it at the highest point. Set shot goalkicking good, rarely missing and field kicking also very impressive for a big. Boyd at his size will never be an athlete but athletically he is still reasonable with ok speed and agility considering his size and has really trimmed his body down somewhat these past two seasons after having a very big frame as a 16 year old.

#4 Gold Coast – Josh Kelly (VIC – Mid)
Height: 181cm, Weight: 71kg, DOB: 12/02/1995
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Andrew Gaff
Player comparison:
Range: 2-10
Profile: Kelly really stands out from the crowd with his really elite outside running midfielder who will go all day and in the past has tested off the charts in the beep test, 3k time trial and repeat sprints. Not only does Kelly have that elite outside running game but his skill set is also exquisite and is just that really precise user of the footy with his footskills in particular impressive just using the ball very efficiently hitting the intended target every time. Kelly will likely always be that outside receiver, but a real substance outside type who will find plenty of the footy and use it well.

#5 Brisbane – Dominic Sheed (WA – Mid)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 10/03/1995
Recruited from: Subiaco
Style: Scott Pendlebury
Player comparison:
Range: 3-15
Profile: Really high production midfielder with some real class to him. Just uses the footy so well by hand and foot and seems to have more time to use it than the next player. Sheed is more your finesse midfielder who just plays a smart game with good positioning, runs into the right positions to receive it and reads the game really well. Sheed has a good running game and is more of an agile, high motor guy as opposed to a linebreaker. Plenty to like and probably one who should be spoken about more as a high end prospect with the way he has produced.

#6 St Kilda - Cameron Conlon (VIC – KPF/Ruck)
Height: 197cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB:
Recruited from: Northern Knights
Style:
Player comparison: Nathan Vardy
Range: 5-20
Profile: Real talent as a key forward and has the ability to really develop into something at the next level. Has a really nice leap on him but also some real contested marking ability. Very accurate shot on goal both from field kicks and set shot attempts. Capable through the ruck and with his leap might be a no.2 ruck type option but I see him best utilised as a key forward.

#7 North Melbourne- Nicholas Robertson (WA – Mid)
Height: 187cm, Weight: 79kg, DOB: 04/04/1995
Recruited from: West Perth
Style:
Player comparison: Steele Sidebottom (Taller)
Range: 5-15
Profile: Real quality running midfielder with outstanding endurance and that ability to run all day and finds plenty of the footy. Probably more outside but has some hardness and can win his own ball. Tackling game strong and gives that effort both ways. Skill level good and an above average user of the footy by both hand and foot. As a relatively tall midfielder plenty of potential to continue to develop his game.

#8 Port Adelaide – Luke McDonald (VIC – Util) F/S
Height: 187cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 09/02/1995
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Style: Brendon Goddard (Better kick)
Player comparison: Trent McKenzie (Better two way game)
Range: 1st round
Profile: McDonald is a really elite kick of the footy and can roost it 60m easily and hit his intended target and get it there in a hurry with his low penetrating kicks. He can hit targets over any distance consistently and usually elects to go for the more damaging option which he can pull off no problem. McDonald has some real versatility to his game with the range to play down back, midfield or as a forward as required but likely starts his career out of the back half as a playmaker off a back flank. Luke is also an outstanding athlete with genuine linebreaking ability on him. Not only is McDonald gifted offensively but he has shown that he can also stay with a man showing a good 1v1 game, good ability at ground level and ability to stay with a leading player allowing him to also play a more accountable role at times as required. Inside game can improve but North Melbourne have a real weapon in McDonald and I expect he will prove a real bargain through F/S.

#9 Fremantle - Jack Billings (VIC – Fwd/Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 18/08/1995
Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers
Style: Nick Dal Santo (harder version)
Player comparison:
Range: 3-15
Profile: Billings is a very high level footballer already and I’ve been really impressed very impressed with his play at a national level, in the TAC and also in APS footy and just seems a class above at any level. Jack stands out with his elite footskills, very duel sided and can both finish around goal easily just knowing where the goals are but also has the playmaking ability to find and set up other players forward of centre and doing damage that way. Whenever he has ball in hand regardless of pressure he just uses it really well and looks really comfortable out there. The other major feature of Jack’s game is his overhead marking ability. He’s not tall but for his height his marking is a real highlight marking it at the highest point, but has those genuine sticky hands where he just takes it every time and also has strong 1v1 marking ability allowing him to be a big weapon when played forward.

#10 West Coast – Matt Crouch (VIC – Mid)
Height: 182cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 21/04/1995
Recruited from: North Ballarat Rebels
Style: Brad Sewell
Player comparison:
Range: 5-20
Profile: Crouch is an elite inside player. Real stoppage specialist. Hard at the ball and a really natural inside extractor burrowing in, winning the ball and setting up the receivers outside of the pack by hand. He does it as well as any and just thrives on that contested ball type game as that clearance specialist. Crouch is also an exceptional tackler showing strong tackling technique and really going in hard with those tackles and it seems to be another area of the game that he just really enjoys. Athletically Matt is a not like his older brother Brad who has that explosive pace. He has good endurance and has good agility but just isn’t that same explosive athlete and will always be more that hard inside type.

Obviously a lot will change after the Under 18 carnival, but thought 'Id throw this open to discussion considering our season is shot and everyone loves the draft when you have a high pick.

You should swap #7 & #8. McDonald will go to North via FS.

We need James Aish. Our key position stocks are ok. We shouldn't recruit specialised flankers. Midfielders, midfielders and more midfielders. Maybe a small forward or two through trade/FA/state leagues.

For six or seven years of continued on field failure, we should get a priority pick.

Then, three years down the line some idiot will claim Neeld experimented with the team and we'll end up copping a fine for employing a bootstudder who looked sideways.

#2 Melbourne – Luke Dunstan (SA –Mid/Fwd)
Height: 184cm, Weight: 82kg, DOB: 29/01/1995
Recruited from: Woodville-West Torrens
Style: Dustin Martin
Player comparison:
Range: 1-5
Profile: Dunstan is a dominant inside midfielder with a really strong body. Really damaging player who will not only win his own footy every time he goes in for it but then will do big damage with it. Dunstan has very damaging footskills and is a really natural finisher anywhere near goal. Not only is Dunstan an exceptional inside player but he can also swing forward, take a mark and hit the scoreboard when given the opportunity and I expect he will continue to be a very damaging player at the next level.

For this reason alone we won't touch him.

For six or seven years of continued on field failure, we should get a priority pick.

Then, three years down the line some idiot will claim Neeld experimented with the team and we'll end up copping a fine for employing a bootstudder who looked sideways.

An "ashen faced" bootstudder?

Man I am sick of the fact that the part of the season MFC supporters get most excited about is the draft. I enjoy the analysis but the fact that it is round 6 and we are already looking forward to the draft is pretty pathetic.

Being "pretty pathetic" is our reality.

Being "pretty pathetic" is our reality.

That's true. I don't blame people for looking forward to it as there isn't much else but it's just sad.

I just hope they don't get cute with the first picks and choose players who can impact the team straight away.

For six or seven years of continued on field failure, we should get a priority pick.

Then, three years down the line some idiot will claim Neeld experimented with the team and we'll end up copping a fine for employing a bootstudder who looked sideways.

You'll be a much happier man if you except reality and just move on. It will be interesting to see if we do get a pp.

I would go midfielders with our first three to four picks and then a couple later picks on a small forward.

I believe our backline and forward line have the potential to be great (with exception of a small forward), when our midfield improves the whole team will.

I hate the fact that we will have to wait another few years before this years draftees would have any influence. Its going to be a long road to success - buckle up!

We need to secure one star mid - Free agency or trade. We need a Bartel or Luke Ball type to help and lead with Jones (use priority pick if we get one)

Hate the fact that we are already talking about the draft but we have nothing else to turn too.

Mid's, Mid's and more Mid's please!

Question is should go draftees or 20-22 year olds? If we go draftees it means that players like Jones, Sylivia, Clark and Dawes will be out of their prime by the time the draftees find form.

OUT: Rodan, Gillies, Pedersen, Byrnes, Nicholson, Mckenzie, Davey, Davis, Bail, Jamar(traded)

OUT: Rodan, Gillies, Pedersen, Byrnes, Nicholson, Mckenzie, Davey, Davis, Bail, Jamar(traded)

Pedersen, Byrnes and McKenzie are all contracted for next year and I believe Nicholson & Bail are also. And can we please stop shafting our senior players and let Jamar see out his contract, even if it is at Casey as insurance for Gawn. Any trade value Russian has was always going to vanish when the new ruck rules came in.

I agree Davey, Rodan & Gillies will likely be gone and Davis will need a big 2nd half of the year to get a new contract. Other likely victims could include MacDonald, Sellar and Fitzpatrick depending on what they can produce for the rest of the year.

I do like the sound of Dunstan and if we do get a priority pick either Aish or Sheed would be very nice also. But lets not go recruiting our new midfield just yet. Things can still turn around....

I hold out hope for a priority pick. We won't get one.

After seven consecutive years of pathetic recruiting and development, we need it.

Aish is the one we need. Dunstan, Billings or Crouch alongside him would be perfect.

I just hope they don't get cute with the first picks and choose players who can impact the team straight away.

I think we should be okay this year - the drafting under Neeld so far has actually been a real positive. Viney (26), Matt Jones (52), Dean Terlich (68), Sellar (52, hasn't been awesome but has done his part) plus rookies Magner and Couch have had an immediate impact and haven't taken 27 years to develop a la Prendergasts strategy.

Please God, bring James Aish to MFC. I've said it on other threads and I'll repeat it. He's the closest thing to Robbie that I've seen in 25 years. It would be just long old times marvelling at the sublime skills of our best player while wallowing in ineptitude & inconsequentiality.

Sorry for the morose nature of this post but I'm equally depressed that we are again draft watching in R6.

We'd have to be some chance of a PP. Ireckon we'll end up 14th, which would mean pick 3. A priority pick might be a second first round pick? Perhaps if we got it we could trade it for an established mid.

We'd have to be some chance of a PP. Ireckon we'll end up 14th, which would mean pick 3. A priority pick might be a second first round pick? Perhaps if we got it we could trade it for an established mid.

Nowadays 14th = Pick 5

14th... Really?? Tell me that after a loss to the suns.

Isn't Aish wafer thin? Haven't had many skinny kids in the team over the last 7 yrs, so why not!

Dunstan, ready to go.

Isn't Aish wafer thin? Haven't had many skinny kids in the team over the last 7 yrs, so why not!

Dunstan, ready to go.

Redemption for passing up on Dustin Martin all those years ago. Can't make the same mistake again.

We need to trade for another first round or an early second round pick. That way we can get 2 mids early, then take another KPD with our 3rd pick (either our second rounder or one we traded for).

Nowadays 14th = Pick 5

Duh, i'm obviously too old school. I mean 16th!

I hate thinking of the draft when the season has just begun. It's f*****g hard work being a Melbourne supporter.

I hate thinking of the draft when the season has just begun. It's f*****g hard work being a Melbourne supporter.

you could be a farmer in the middle of cats fans and be a demon supporter?