The process is fun for us and it keeps footy going in the off season. It's just that too many take their views too seriously.

C'mon Bob, you are in the very same serious boat as other posters!

Since you have gone to that effort, I'll reply to your post firstly.

First and foremost, as demon supporters we know there is no guarantee when it comes to the draft. Whether that be pick 1, 2 or 78. There isn't a sure fire way of knowing the player called out by the head recruiter on draft day is a 200 game player. The names you mention all symbolise that and there is no disagreement from me why freeman could not join them.

That said, my post was aimed at a poster who continues to make calls on a lot of club issues with little regard to facts or figures, and his or her own opinion is blinded by that. The post I disagree with was that the more he/she watches of freeman the more he is another Nicholson.

Dan Nicholson never ever was a top 10 draft pick. He was taken off the back of 2 year solid performances at uni blues and we picked him as a rookie in 2011. Now beg my ignorance, but I never once disagreed that freeman could be yet another top 10 pick who doesn't evolve into a long term player, merely stating that yet again, the poster in question made another baseless reference with little fact to support those claims.

You should be able to bank on a long term player inside the top 10, however it's fair to say a second round rookie listed player who battled away playing amateur footy for 2 years and had to fight to get into a senior list, is more of a bonus to us than a hindrance and a player worthy of such derogatory abuse from posters in some instances. What's to say he can't be worked on and moulded into a long term player.many clubs have a player come on after battling away previously, Matthew stokes, clancee Pearce, Michael Walters, Ted Richards all spring to mind. If there is an exact science to recruiting with your top 10 pick, BB, I'm sure many a club would love to hear from you.

And it is something that Paul Roos time and time again has proven himself to be very good at at the swans. I have no doubt he will also be good at it for the Dees.

Who are the likely "dud" we are all craving now: Boyd, Kelly, Aish, Billings, KK, Scharenberg. Lennon, Bontepelli, McDonald, Freeman, Salem?

I have my suspicions about Bontempelli based mainly on the descriptions and player comparisons I have seen on him. I actually like the look of Aish, but many people have raised valid concerns about his build and ability to put on enough muscle to play in an AFL midfield. Also, I don't like to see players who make a late run into contention for a high pick based on recent good form. I think it's easy to be conned into believing they are better than they really are based on a few good games at the end of the season. Better to go with someone who has looked the goods for a long time and consistently shown their ability.

I have my suspicions about Bontempelli based mainly on the descriptions and player comparisons I have seen on him. I actually like the look of Aish, but many people have raised valid concerns about his build and ability to put on enough muscle to play in an AFL midfield. Also, I don't like to see players who make a late run into contention for a high pick based on recent good form. I think it's easy to be conned into believing they are better than they really are based on a few good games at the end of the season. Better to go with someone who has looked the goods for a long time and consistently shown their ability.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if we go with Sheed; he's been up there all the time no flash in the pan a genuine top pick who's shown good form for a long time.

I Also, I don't like to see players who make a late run into contention for a high pick based on recent good form. I think it's easy to be conned into believing they are better than they really are based on a few good games at the end of the season. Better to go with someone who has looked the goods for a long time and consistently shown their ability.

That and added to combine results can be very misleading. For players in the top 10 it has to be consistency over time that matters, it's why I don't see Scharenberg dropping and still think he is likely to go to GWS.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if we go with Sheed; he's been up there all the time no flash in the pan a genuine top pick who's shown good form for a long time.

Not quite 'Robbie', his carnival form pushed him up the rankings. He has made a late run.

We need someone with confidence and swagger, or the opposite to Watts, Blease and Morton. I would go with someone who is a 'bloke' one who is confident with their appereance.....and maturity above their age.

It's all simple

We need someone with confidence and swagger, or the opposite to Watts, Blease and Morton. I would go with someone who is a 'bloke' one who is confident with their appereance.....and maturity above their age.

It's all simple

You're describing the wraps on Jack Watts, around the time of the 2008 draft.

Not so simple.

We need someone with confidence and swagger, or the opposite to Watts, Blease and Morton. I would go with someone who is a 'bloke' one who is confident with their appereance.....and maturity above their age.

It's all simple

Dylan shiel has that kind of confidence and swagger. For too long we've lacked on field leadership through confidence and backing one self.

I have my suspicions about Bontempelli based mainly on the descriptions and player comparisons I have seen on him.

I have my suspicions about Bontempelli based mainly on the fact that I am having trouble pronouncing his name.

Sound it out- it's not that hard. Bon-temp-elli.

Easier than kolodjashnij- Kolo-jash-nij.. stuff it, let's just draft Freeman- Free-man.

That's why I wouldn't be upset if we go with Sheed; he's been up there all the time no flash in the pan a genuine top pick who's shown good form for a long time.

There's no doubt that Sheed is an exciting prospect, but he is also from WA. With what is increasingly happening of late, the 'go home' factor needs to be taken into consideration.

'If all things appear to be even, select a Victorian', could be the wise path to adopt.

Dylan shiel has that kind of confidence and swagger. For too long we've lacked on field leadership through confidence and backing one self.

What has Dylan Shiel got to do with MFC?

You're describing the wraps on Jack Watts, around the time of the 2008 draft.

Not so simple.

Wait until Watts is dominating.

The guy could be close to the most arrogant player in the AFL.

And will let people know as soon as he takes the next step.

Can't wait to see it.

Wait until Watts is dominating.

The guy could be close to the most arrogant player in the AFL.

And will let people know as soon as he takes the next step.

Can't wait to see it.

Might I suggest not holding your breath.

Dylan shiel has that kind of confidence and swagger. For too long we've lacked on field leadership through confidence and backing one self.

Tyson and Viney have that sort of swagger, as allegedly Hogan and Vince. I don't think there is any lack of leadership in our new recruits.

I think we should be now going for elite football skills, and if that is in a mid fielder then so be it.

It is also the reason my preference is Lennon - he also happens to have outstanding leadership skills as well.

We are getting ourselves in a great position I reckon.

Edited November 1, 201311 yr by Dees2014

If anyone cares Jeremy Laidler has joined the Swans..

C'mon Bob, you are in the very same serious boat as other posters!

No not when it comes to evaluating players I've only seen on a three minute clip and read a few phantom drafts.

I do think it's funny when posters start to wed themselves to players.

I get serious over things I think I can judge. I could see from day one that Neeld had no people skills - a great characteristic for a coach of a young group. I could see governance problems and I could see when there were obvious signs of mismanagement. I get serious over that and reckon I can have a worthwhile opinion.

But on possible recruits - I don't think you'll find a comment from me here about a potential draftees ability.

No not when it comes to evaluating players I've only seen on a three minute clip and read a few phantom drafts.

I do think it's funny when posters start to wed themselves to players.

I get serious over things I think I can judge. I could see from day one that Neeld had no people skills - a great characteristic for a coach of a young group. I could see governance problems and I could see when there were obvious signs of mismanagement. I get serious over that and reckon I can have a worthwhile opinion.

But on possible recruits - I don't think you'll find a comment from me here about a potential draftees ability.

Why would that be Bob? It's a forum, nothing serious and if you get it wrong no one will care and if you get it right, no one will care.

And if by some chance they do, you don't have to take any notice.

Wait until Watts is dominating.

The guy could be close to the most arrogant player in the AFL.

And will let people know as soon as he takes the next step.

Can't wait to see it.

he's just one great pre season away from the stars... or we'll book him on richard bransons rocket & launch him into orbit

Why would that be Bob? It's a forum, nothing serious and if you get it wrong no one will care and if you get it right, no one will care.

And if by some chance they do, you don't have to take any notice.

but that would be playing the game... the thinkmeisters will hear nothing of that. plateau'd with nowhere to go but peer down & shout @ us all.

but that would be playing the game... the thinkmeisters will hear nothing of that. plateau'd with nowhere to go but peer down & shout @ us all.

Unfortunately some take this board and themselves, far too seriously.

Unfortunately some take this board and themselves, far too seriously.

you take that back !!!!!! lol

Bob

Judging a coach or administrator is just as difficult (if not more) as it is just as difficult to judge a player. PG was a failure but you seem to back his administration to the end.

You have your serious topics as others have theirs

I know of one bloke who's only serious about politics. Happens to be a supporter of the coalition but the same story could be told of Labor supporters.

Anyway, from the day that Kevin '07 was elected back in 2007 he was a trenchant critic of the government. For six years all I heard from him was "pink batts", "carbon tax" and "Craig Thomson". Then on 18 September this year the public voted in a new government and ever since, this bloke has been running around, beating his chest and telling everybody about what a genius he is.

If I start today and bag the coalition every day of the week for 3, 6 or 9 years, then one day, I'll be a genius too.

Funny how politics and footy are similar.

Politics shouldn't be the same. The fact that so many Australians approach politics with the blind emotional allegiance that sports supporters feel for their sports team instead of thinking about policy and the good of the country I one of the biggest things that annoys me about Australia.

we used to play a game on a one eyed party man at work. We'd tell him a policy of the party he hated and say it was his parry's policy. He'd tell us how astute it was until we told him it was the other party and then without realizing how much of a blind ignoramus it made him look he'd suddenly tell us how bad the policy was. Lets not let unbiased considered thought get in the way of our party allegiance...