There's a young kid who I've been watching closely on Foxtel's coverage of the AFL Under 18 Championships and who I think might have a role to play in changing Melbourne's future fortunes through this year's draft. However, if that happens, he won't end up as a Demon.

Smith was selected yesterday as a member of the All Australian team (on top of being named his state's MVP) but, because his birth date is 3rd February 1996, the Western Australian is not eligible to be drafted at November's AFL draft meeting.

Clem Smith was a member of an AFL indigenous player tour to South Africa last year - WA teens leap into the limelight following which he was named in the 2012/3 AIS/AFL Academy (Level 1). He was described in the Academy's profiles as follows:-

Clem SMITH 03 February 96 177cm 67kg Western Australia/Perth/Wesley College
Small defender/forward that uses the ball exceptionally well and makes very good decisions. His rebound from defence can break the game open at times through his excellent leg speed and attack on the ball. Also displays the ability to push forward and be dangerous around goals. Indigenous Player.

AIS/AFL ACADEMY PROFILES

A member of the Perth Colts (WAFL), Smith toured New Zealand with the Academy earlier this year and starred in their 16.5 (101) to 7.16 (58) win over a representative side, the NZ Hawks.

Smith displayed explosive pace, drive and skills in the Under 18 championships and, on what I saw, was well deserving of his AA honour as a bottom age player. He will no doubt be well sought after in the future by AFL clubs because players of his flair and ability to cause damage to the opposition are rare.

Which brings me to why he could play a role in Melbourne's future draft fortunes.

Smith's birth date puts him in the same range as Jaeger O'Meara, Brad Crouch, Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan - the four players selected over the past two years in the GWS Mini Drafts. The first two are already turning heads in the AFL and have received rising star nominations. If another mini draft was held later this year, Smith would be the #1 target of many AFL clubs, especially those that already have strong lists with very few immediate needs.

Such clubs would no doubt relish the thought of being able to stockpile a player of Clem Smith's talents while developing him further for a year at VFL or similar state level in 2014.

Many clubs have expressed opposition to the idea of simply giving Melbourne priority picks to get it out of its current playing list predicament but I sense that there would be less resistance if a prize like Clem Smith was on offer to them by way of trades for players and/or draft picks to the Demons.

And Smith is not the only young prospect in AIS/AFL Academy ranks who would attract attention and become available if the AFL decided to give Melbourne draft assistance through a GWS style mini draft. The following are among the Academy members who fit the bill for eligibility for such a draft and who also made their respective state squads for the recently completed championships:-

Jesse Watchman (West Adelaide) 196cm, 91kg

Peter Spurling (Glenelg) 199cm, 85kg

Bohdi Walker (Gippsland) 182cm, 82kg

Jake Lever (Calder) 190cm, 82kg

Ryan Lim (Claremont) 186cm, 75kg

Warrick Wilson (Swan Districts) 187cm, 72kg

Liam Griffiths (Ainslie) 183cm, 78kg

Lachlan Weller (Broadbeach) 179cm, 71kg

Liam Dawson (Aspley) 188cm, 78kg

Matthew Hammelmann (Morningside) 196cm, 84kg

Most of them would be unknowns at the moment except for the scouts at AFL clubs who would be smacking their lips if they knew there was a possibility of recruiting Clem Smith or one or two others on this list.

Haven't we got Barry for that role?

Carlton shows you don't want too many small crumbing fwds

That would be handy to have him as trade bait.

Who do you think he would be worth?

Or would we go for Draft Picks in this years draft?

Haven't we got Barry for that role?

Carlton shows you don't want too many small crumbing fwds

Unsure how this has anything to do with our requirements. We have lacked a good crumber for years.

just a little point here.....not ever indigenious player is a small forward/crumber.......some do play other positions.....Dom Barry is NOT a crumber..he is a midfielder...ideallysuited to wing..a-la Michael Long.....

Think we should chase Nathan Jones brother Zak. Great half back that has just won the Vic Country MVP

Realistically we have got our spine sorted:

Frawley

McDonald

Jones

Dawes

Clarke

What we really need is good midfielders which can rotate through the backline and half forward line. Hopefully we can recruit the best midfielders we can in this draft and develop them. With Jones, trengrove, grimes, viney, toumpas, howe, sylvia rotating through there it seems promising but we really need a few stars... ala what morton and scully were recruited to us but never turned into anything special.

Haven't we got Barry for that role?

Carlton shows you don't want too many small crumbing fwds

One or two would be good though.

Barry - is he a crumbing forward?

Perhaps I've read this excellent piece differently, but I don't think WJ is suggesting Smith would be gifted to Melbourne to add to our list. Rather WJ is thinking outside the square and suggesting that the AFL Commission may give Melbourne some assistance by allowing (in fact, requiring) us to "sell" the rights to an underage player to the best bidder as GWS did last year with Jesse Hogan and Jack Martin. In that way, Melbourne has an opportunity to get a player (or draft pick) surplus to requirements at a club willing to part with that player (or draft pick) in turn for the rights to the underage player.

It's a very clever way for the AFL to give Melbourne some assistance without tampering with this year's draft.

So instead of discussing whether Smith would fit in with our team, we should be discussing which player (or draft pick) would another team be prepared to put on the table in return for us providing them with the rights to an underage player.

And if I've completely misunderstood WJ's piece and that's not what he said, I'll claim copyright over this idea and send it on to the AFL as an idea to help Melbourne.

Clem Smith will be a STAR. I hope the AFL says "MFC" have access to the best player in 17y bracket not eligible for the draft. ie. either select or trade away for a pick in this draft. Eagles would jump at Smith and offer say pick 9. HMMM.

Perhaps I've read this excellent piece differently, but I don't think WJ is suggesting Smith would be gifted to Melbourne to add to our list. Rather WJ is thinking outside the square and suggesting that the AFL Commission may give Melbourne some assistance by allowing (in fact, requiring) us to "sell" the rights to an underage player to the best bidder as GWS did last year with Jesse Hogan and Jack Martin. In that way, Melbourne has an opportunity to get a player (or draft pick) surplus to requirements at a club willing to part with that player (or draft pick) in turn for the rights to the underage player.

It's a very clever way for the AFL to give Melbourne some assistance without tampering with this year's draft.

So instead of discussing whether Smith would fit in with our team, we should be discussing which player (or draft pick) would another team be prepared to put on the table in return for us providing them with the rights to an underage player.

And if I've completely misunderstood WJ's piece and that's not what he said, I'll claim copyright over this idea and send it on to the AFL as an idea to help Melbourne.

You've got it exactly right and whereas giving MFC a priority pick might not be accepted by other clubs for various reasons, a mini draft deals with some of those concerns and also gives us some necessary and much needed assistance after seven years of consistently poor performance.

A mini draft style leg up does firm as the best course of assistance with possibly the least resistance factor .

We may know soon enough.