Very interesting to read all you're reviews and thoughts.

I have actually been privileged enough to play alongside Kelly & Freeman from u13s till now.

Being in the same team for a number of years, i have got to know them both very well.

Before i get onto them both, i'd first like to alert you that all these Phantom Drafts are rough rough estimates, as the national recruiting manager of Sydney spoke to us about how the Emma Quales & co want to know everything from clubs, except why would clubs tell them the truth. The players they rate in order so it can be public knowledge - this is these peoples profession they arent going to publicise their teams prized pick!!!

He even said last year a number of the players in the top 20 didn't even get drafted.

Both terrific blokes.

Freeman - is made for AFL. Explosive, powerful, competitor that from u13s day would tear the field apart. Get it from the centre, break the lines and kick goals. The beast inside him proves he has what it takes to make it in the next level.

Kelly - is a professional. Swift mover but very light frame. I for one, arent sold on him making it big time at the highest level. I can see a Cale Morton/Tom Scully all over. He is a runner!! but will take time to develop and dont think its what we can afford to waste our time with right now. I hope for his sake he makes it big time because he deserve. But for us MFC we should give it a skip. He is very silky and often finds time when he has the ball, but i can see how at AFL level he would get exposed!

Thanks for the insight. Although I disagree a bit about the phantom drafts, they start off very rough but by the time the draft happens they are usually pretty accurate.

Look at EQ's from last year, pretty much spot on - http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-pick-of-the-crop-20121117-29jct.html

Kelly will never win a team a game of football. Simple as that

He won 2 out of 3 games at the highest level available for him to play at and had 30, 28 and 24 touches in each of the games and was named in the best. Seems he didn't back it up at TAC level but he did produce when needed. Again if we look at dominant Under 18 championships we need to look no further than Morton and Watts but it's not bad production

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-15/top-prospect-boyd-injured

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-06-28/metro-duo-shine-but-sa-wins

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-07-03/metro-take-top-billings

Personally I just wish Lewis Taylor came with a few more cm's because he has amazing talent, it's just hard to pick a 175cm guy with pick 2.

Thanks for the insight. Although I disagree a bit about the phantom drafts, they start off very rough but by the time the draft happens they are usually pretty accurate.

Look at EQ's from last year, pretty much spot on - http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/the-pick-of-the-crop-20121117-29jct.html

I hope so, just stating what the recruiting manager told us.

I would be rapt to see 3 friends in the top 20.

I will be very disappointed if we pick Kelly at 2.. We need inside ball winners to Help Jonesy and Viney. Cant keep picking skinny outside midfielders and expect this two to cop all the brunt. We have enough outside midfielders enough as it is. Freeman, Dumont, Crouch and Dunstan are players we should be talking about, and seriously consider. Kelly is that skinny that I don't expect him to make a real impact till another 3 to 4 years. And lets be realistic he isn't gonna put much bulk on either even when he does get into the AFL system. Will be another Cale Morton or Cameron Hunter that just cant put on the weight. Blokes like Crouch and Dunstan will slot in and make an impact Like Wines and Vlaustuin did this year. Even Freeman aswell.

Melbourne Football Club should be saying thanks but no thanks.

I will be very disappointed if we pick Kelly at 2.. We need inside ball winners to Help Jonesy and Viney. Cant keep picking skinny outside midfielders and expect this two to cop all the brunt. We have enough outside midfielders enough as it is. Freeman, Dumont, Crouch and Dunstan are players we should be talking about, and seriously consider. Kelly is that skinny that I don't expect him to make a real impact till another 3 to 4 years. And lets be realistic he isn't gonna put much bulk on either even when he does get into the AFL system. Will be another Cale Morton or Cameron Hunter that just cant put on the weight. Blokes like Crouch and Dunstan will slot in and make an impact Like Wines and Vlaustuin did this year. Even Freeman aswell.

Melbourne Football Club should be saying thanks but no thanks.

We have to keep picking best available though. If we want immediate impact we trade pick 2. Ollie Wines wouldn't have made immediate impact to anywhere near the extent he did at Port with us last year. It would have been too hard.

From what I saw of Kelly in the champs I think he will develop a very good inside game and we have to have some faith in our fitness department to get guys the right body shape. Misson seemed to do it at Sydney and the saints I don't see why he can't get guys up to size at Melbourne. His elite fitness will also mean he can play early on a wing and contribute. Could use him to tag the most dangerous running wingman - Hannebery, Isaac Smith, Montagna which would make us an instantly better team.

I think I can beat that. A Melbourne supporting friend who is usually particularly cluey thought Fergus and Jack Watts were brothers

HaHa, maybe they have the same Papa

Very interesting to read all you're reviews and thoughts.

I have actually been privileged enough to play alongside Kelly & Freeman from u13s till now.

Being in the same team for a number of years, i have got to know them both very well.

Before i get onto them both, i'd first like to alert you that all these Phantom Drafts are rough rough estimates, as the national recruiting manager of Sydney spoke to us about how the Emma Quales & co want to know everything from clubs, except why would clubs tell them the truth. The players they rate in order so it can be public knowledge - this is these peoples profession they arent going to publicise their teams prized pick!!!

He even said last year a number of the players in the top 20 didn't even get drafted.

Both terrific blokes.

Freeman - is made for AFL. Explosive, powerful, competitor that from u13s day would tear the field apart. Get it from the centre, break the lines and kick goals. The beast inside him proves he has what it takes to make it in the next level.

Kelly - is a professional. Swift mover but very light frame. I for one, arent sold on him making it big time at the highest level. I can see a Cale Morton/Tom Scully all over. He is a runner!! but will take time to develop and dont think its what we can afford to waste our time with right now. I hope for his sake he makes it big time because he deserve. But for us MFC we should give it a skip. He is very silky and often finds time when he has the ball, but i can see how at AFL level he would get exposed!

You've sold me on Freeman already. Although Explosive and powerful are attributes we seem to avoid in our drafting and we definitely don't like beasts. Damned if I know why.

We have to keep picking best available though. If we want immediate impact we trade pick 2. Ollie Wines wouldn't have made immediate impact to anywhere near the extent he did at Port with us last year. It would have been too hard.

From what I saw of Kelly in the champs I think he will develop a very good inside game and we have to have some faith in our fitness department to get guys the right body shape. Misson seemed to do it at Sydney and the saints I don't see why he can't get guys up to size at Melbourne. His elite fitness will also mean he can play early on a wing and contribute. Could use him to tag the most dangerous running wingman - Hannebery, Isaac Smith, Montagna which would make us an instantly better team.

By inside i seriously mean a bloke that will cop the hard knocks and burrow in and under against seasoned players. Kelly is so far off that it shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentance as kelly.. Mission can do all the work he can but he is an outside endurance runner that will struggle in his career to put on bulk. Whatever weight he puts on he will burn it off straight away come the season. Kelly is a pure outside. Like Morton, like Gaff and like Scully..

Kelly will be a gokd player but he doesnt fit our needs of a inside ball winner to take the pressure of Jones and Viney. He will suit a club like the saints or dogs who need outside run.

Glenn Bartlett said we need mongrel in our team. Kelly does NOT fit that bill.

Very interesting to read all you're reviews and thoughts.

I have actually been privileged enough to play alongside Kelly & Freeman from u13s till now.

Being in the same team for a number of years, i have got to know them both very well.

Before i get onto them both, i'd first like to alert you that all these Phantom Drafts are rough rough estimates, as the national recruiting manager of Sydney spoke to us about how the Emma Quales & co want to know everything from clubs, except why would clubs tell them the truth. The players they rate in order so it can be public knowledge - this is these peoples profession they arent going to publicise their teams prized pick!!!

He even said last year a number of the players in the top 20 didn't even get drafted.

Both terrific blokes.

Freeman - is made for AFL. Explosive, powerful, competitor that from u13s day would tear the field apart. Get it from the centre, break the lines and kick goals. The beast inside him proves he has what it takes to make it in the next level.

Kelly - is a professional. Swift mover but very light frame. I for one, arent sold on him making it big time at the highest level. I can see a Cale Morton/Tom Scully all over. He is a runner!! but will take time to develop and dont think its what we can afford to waste our time with right now. I hope for his sake he makes it big time because he deserve. But for us MFC we should give it a skip. He is very silky and often finds time when he has the ball, but i can see how at AFL level he would get exposed!

CAREFUL, i said that a month or so ago and got shouted down; I mentioned he had similar traits to Morton and was told I didn't have a clue.

I stick by that, he has very thin wrists and forearms and they don't look like they will be able to bulk up; he may be a great footballer in this type of competition but when he gets amongst the super fit AFL footballers he will lose his advantage and he won't have the strength,

By inside i seriously mean a bloke that will cop the hard knocks and burrow in and under against seasoned players. Kelly is so far off that it shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentance as kelly.. Mission can do all the work he can but he is an outside endurance runner that will struggle in his career to put on bulk. Whatever weight he puts on he will burn it off straight away come the season. Kelly is a pure outside. Like Morton, like Gaff and like Scully..

Kelly will be a gokd player but he doesnt fit our needs of a inside ball winner to take the pressure of Jones and Viney. He will suit a club like the saints or dogs who need outside run.

Glenn Bartlett said we need mongrel in our team. Kelly does NOT fit that bill.

So what gun outside runners do we have dazzle? I see Jones, Viney and Trengove as some good in and under types, but outside of Toumpas we have little of the players who are outside runners who have elite foot skills. We could use a few of those too, and I think there will be some good, inside mids around with our second round picks.

And mongrel isn't just about going hard at the footy - Bartlett would be talking about their approach to the game, positive impact on our culture, setting standards etc.

By inside i seriously mean a bloke that will cop the hard knocks and burrow in and under against seasoned players. Kelly is so far off that it shouldnt be mentioned in the same sentance as kelly.. Mission can do all the work he can but he is an outside endurance runner that will struggle in his career to put on bulk. Whatever weight he puts on he will burn it off straight away come the season. Kelly is a pure outside. Like Morton, like Gaff and like Scully..

Kelly will be a gokd player but he doesnt fit our needs of a inside ball winner to take the pressure of Jones and Viney. He will suit a club like the saints or dogs who need outside run.

Glenn Bartlett said we need mongrel in our team. Kelly does NOT fit that bill.

Glenn Bartlett said we need mongrel in our Club. I take that as meaning all areas. a pervasive attitude.

I hope that we get tough players as well, whoever they are.

So what gun outside runners do we have dazzle? I see Jones, Viney and Trengove as some good in and under types, but outside of Toumpas we have little of the players who are outside runners who have elite foot skills. We could use a few of those too, and I think there will be some good, inside mids around with our second round picks.

And mongrel isn't just about going hard at the footy - Bartlett would be talking about their approach to the game, positive impact on our culture, setting standards etc.

If you had been watching this year we had MJones, Trengove, Toumpas, Evans, Bail, Blease, Nicholson and even Howe all basically playing outside Roles. We also have Dom Barry who is developing nicely and should play 6-10 games.

We then had Viney, Jones, Sylvia and sometimes Rodan as our inside Mids. Two are now gone and Mckenzie just isnt up to it. We got pushed off the ball way too easily and and were continue to get flogged in the center bounce. Yet people like you are still led to believe that Jones and Viney dont need help and someone to ease the pressure. Look at teams like Hawthorn with Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Puopolo, Sewell, Shiels. All contested tough mongrel beasts. Sydney have Kennedy, Jack, Mitchell, O' Keefe, Hannerbery, Parker, Goodes as their in and under Ball magnets. We have Jones, Viney....Magner? Mckenzie..?

Where is our Mongrel compared to them? You know the blokes that are hard and aggressive at the ball and the man and love to Scrap and dish out a big hit for the team?? Viney and Jones are our only two Mongrel bastards.. We needs blokes that when we dish out the big bumps the opposition come off second best.

Kelly is not that type and never will. He will be a good outside player in the mould of Farren Ray or Andrew Gaff but he does not fit our NEEDS. cannot not make that any clear..

If you had been watching this year we had MJones, Trengove, Toumpas, Evans, Bail, Blease, Nicholson and even Howe all basically playing outside Roles. We also have Dom Barry who is developing nicely and should play 6-10 games.

We then had Viney, Jones, Sylvia and sometimes Rodan as our inside Mids. Two are now gone and Mckenzie just isnt up to it. We got pushed off the ball way too easily and and were continue to get flogged in the center bounce. Yet people like you are still led to believe that Jones and Viney dont need help and someone to ease the pressure. Look at teams like Hawthorn with Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis, Puopolo, Sewell, Shiels. All contested tough mongrel beasts. Sydney have Kennedy, Jack, Mitchell, O' Keefe, Hannerbery, Parker, Goodes as their in and under Ball magnets. We have Jones, Viney....Magner? Mckenzie..?

Where is our Mongrel compared to them? You know the blokes that are hard and aggressive at the ball and the man and love to Scrap and dish out a big hit for the team?? Viney and Jones are our only two Mongrel bastards.. We needs blokes that when we dish out the big bumps the opposition come off second best.

Kelly is not that type and never will. He will be a good outside player in the mould of Farren Ray or Andrew Gaff but he does not fit our NEEDS. cannot not make that any clear..

I said gun outside runners, not just any old player. Lumping Bail, Blease, Nicho and Evans in there to make up numbers doesn't cover the fact that we lack plenty of outside class, something Kelly brings.

Trengove is an inside mid as much as an outside mid and Grimes spent time in there also. I don't argue the fact that we need some more inside players but we also need lots of class as well. Kelly brings that in spades, as does James Aish. Having one of them alongside Toumpas for the next 10 years would be fantastic. With our second rounders we might land a Dunstan, Dumont, Z Jones etc who can join Jones, Viney, Trengove, Grimes as the inside midfielders who get the ball to Kelly/Aish and Toumpas, that's if we keep the 2nd pick, which it's likely we won't.

I know we need inside players but your complete dismissal of someone like Kelly and his value to our side is both short sighted and naive.

We don't need inside mids and we don't need outside mids we need good quality mids. These guys play inside and outside and some of them are also goal kickers, check most of the top teams and this is the case. Define the inside and outside mids at Geelong and while you're at it name the small crumbing forwards.

Kelly is not that type and never will. He will be a good outside player in the mould of Farren Ray or Andrew Gaff but he does not fit our NEEDS. cannot not make that any clear..

Can't argue that we need inside more than outside, especially with a Roos game plan winning clearances are vital but remember drafting should never be done on needs. You are also still counting on first season impact from a player which is wrong. Even a midfielder at pick one shouldn't be counted for impact until year 3 at least.

We'll have Jones, Viney and McKenzie as mentioned that's not enough so we'll have to trade (pick 2 or Michie or Greenwood maybe) and hope we get unexpected improvement in inside game from Trenners, M Jones, Evans maybe Kent and Taggert even.

But I'm no draft expert but I do think Kelly has inside ability from what I saw. Remember not all clearances are won by pure strength but a lot are won by Pendlebury and Fyfe style movement. Even Kieran Jack wins a heap by being fast, fearless and clever. Different ways to skin a cat.

Doesn't have mongrel and doesn't have killer instinct

Avoid at all costs

Nor does Scott Pendlebury and Trent Cotchin.

They both have cool, calm and collected heads and it shows with their style of game.

Kelly is not dissimilar to Jackson McCrae.

Jackson had an impressive year.

He was arguably thinner than Kelly coming into this year.

If we take Aish, there will be people saying he is too thin, we shouldn't of taken him, we need inside mids.

If we take Kelly, there will be people saying the same.

If we take Crouch, there will be people saying he is a limited grinder, not worthy of pick 2, we should've taken Aish and Kelly.

If we take Freedman, there will be people saying why did we take Freedman - when Kelly, Aish and Crouch were available.

So, the MFC really cannot win, having said that I don't even think we'll have pick 2 come draft day.

http://www.scpaige.com.au/draftees-in-focus-josh-kelly/

Not much that doesn't sound good

Josh Kelly just completed a 3 Km time trial run on the Final day of the draft combine . Breaking his own record Kelly ran the six-and-a-bit laps of Etihad Stadium in nine minutes and 48 seconds, recording a time better than anyone else at the combine at the same time setting himself up as a priority pick if not the top of the draft Billing for upcoming selection.