The 2014 AFL National Draft

[Goodvibes 3,596]

I'd trade both first round picks assuming Frawley leaves and we gain band 1 compo. I'd send one to GWS for one of Shiel/Treloar and the other to Gold Coast for Dixon. I'd make two very significant contract offers. We've got the salary cap space. Let's use it.

I'm like most here and have watched bits and pieces of the U18s on Fox but that's it. No one has really jumped out and made me say, "I want that kid". Having said that, once afl.com gets their highlight packages up I'll be a complete expert and will no doubt have a fresh view on what we should do with our 2014 picks. Oh and once the bigfooty experts complete their phantom drafts, I'll have changed my mind again.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Petracca or Brayshaw.

Ahern looked impressive as well.7

Any of those players would add a lot to our list.

if we get a compo pick for Chipper, then Shiel as entre`, & young Lamb should our Main course.

Edited July 6, 2014 by dee-luded

[KingDingAling 3,758]

if we get a compo pick for Chipper, the Shiel as entre`, & young Lamb should our Main course.

No complaints, I think Lamb is a good prospect, versatile and apparently runs a 16 beep test.

[dee-luded 2,959]

No complaints, I think Lamb is a good prospect, versatile and apparently runs a 16 beep test.

I don't want 2 young 18Yr old Mids, from the draft.... Shiel, who is raring to go; & a tasty bit of spring Lamb, who could satisfy most needs & in the Mids as well, with height, run & dash.....

Versatility in our first 2 pick selections, with strength, toughness, run, height, & marking.

Edited July 6, 2014 by dee-luded

[beelzebub 23,379]

I just want players

lads who can play and understand footy

dont give a rats about beep

lets move on...go back to footy

[dee-luded 2,959]

No complaints, I think Lamb is a good prospect, versatile and apparently runs a 16 beep test.

I don't want 2 young 18Yr old Mids, from the draft.... Shiel, who is raring to go;& a tasty bit of spring Lamb, who could play most spots & Mid as well, with height & run & dash.....

Versatility in our first 2 pick selections, with strength, toughness, run, height, & marking.

[dee-luded 2,959]

No complaints, I think Lamb is a good prospect, versatile and apparently runs a 16 beep test.

I don't want 2 young 18Yr old Mids, from the draft.... Shiel, who is raring to go;& a tasty bit of spring Lamb, who could play most spots & Mid as well, with height & run & dash.....

Versatility in our first 2 pick selections, with strength, toughness, run, height, & marking.

[Machsy 2,858]

Winner

Really?

You hand out that prize easily.

Doesn't do it for me.

[Machsy 2,858]

I'd trade both first round picks assuming Frawley leaves and we gain band 1 compo. I'd send one to GWS for one of Shiel/Treloar and the other to Gold Coast for Dixon. I'd make two very significant contract offers. We've got the salary cap space. Let's use it.

I'm like most here and have watched bits and pieces of the U18s on Fox but that's it. No one has really jumped out and made me say, "I want that kid". Having said that, once afl.com gets their highlight packages up I'll be a complete expert and will no doubt have a fresh view on what we should do with our 2014 picks. Oh and once the bigfooty experts complete their phantom drafts, I'll have changed my mind again.

I kind of agree.

None jump out at me as an "I want that one" type.

Petracca does jump out at me as an "I'm the best one here" type.

So if we keep the first pick, I'd want it used on Petracca, or McCartin at worst.

But there are question marks over everyone on the board.

[What 18,810]

If we get pick 3 and 4 I hope we keep them and Roos and Taylor back themselves in to pick two special kids

[Whispering_Jack 30,198]

I guess the question is, if you assume that Hogan and Dawes play and a ruck/forward plays and Watts plays, what role would Petracca fill in and or would he make much of a difference. Remember Dawes and Hogan are big big bodys and maybe Gawn plays with Watts as a classy tall and then two crumbers/resting mids/defensive forwards. Also if Frawley stays, then you have Dunn, Garland, McDonald, Frawley and Howe as well, so a Howe or Frawley will probably compete for a forward berth as well or someone tall who should be playing AFL sits out each week at Casey. Cam Pedersen for example.

In terms of the forward line it would to me seem far too marking based with not enough crumbing ability and not enough ground level harrassment of the opposition. It seems we have an oversupply by one or two players of capable 190cm plus players, so bringing in a big bodied medium marking forward/on baller doesn't make much sense to me, especially if he is drafted to make an instant impact. Obviously if his testing and work rate lead to him being primarily a midfielder then that's great. But we also have Salem who is a forward/midfielder (hopefully) as well. Hes a good player and he's probably a big chance at St Kilda at one but I just don't think he makes as much sense to Melbourne given our team balance. Obviously things are very fluid and maybe other trades could be done and he would make sense and maybe Frawley going makes it more sensible.

But as things sit, I'd prefer us get say a Liam Duggan for his two-sided quality kicking off half-back/through the midfield or invest in a tall (Goddard/Durdin) for a few years down the track when Frawley, Dawes, Garland are in their late 20s. I guess I view Petracca as a luxury pick when really significant structural abnormalities can be addressed in the immediate and for down the track and I would need to be convinced he is a star to pick him. He may be, but Im not convinced. St Kilda have no entrenched forwards bar a retiring Riewoldt and a resting ruckman, so he could come in play 15 mins forward 10 mid a quarter and be a great pickup, For us we would need to jig things around to get him playing his optimum role in the short term at least.

Thanks Goodoil. It's going to be another interesting period for the club. I never thought back 3 or 4 years ago that we'd be dealing in such early draft picks but that's life.

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

I'd rather trade both picks, Petracca is the only mid that interests me

[Born to Run 204]

Who knows, we may end up with pick 2 if Brisbane roll us in a few weeks.... Chuck in a compo pick and stretch at a third rounder, and at least off season could be interesting, cause season proper isn't!!

[rjay 24,939]

Ahern is getting a fair bit of love.

I haven't seen it.

What does he bring to the table that makes him a top 5 selection?

I see Wright potentially dropping out of the top 5, and Laverde being taken earlier than expected.

As for the Drafting and Trading Board, can't imagine many feeling comfortable with it being the "Chip Frawley" Board, but he will have a lot of influence shaping our recruiting period one way or another.

Could be a bit like Grundy 'Machsy' and Grundy's form was well ahead of Wright. He fell out to the low teens where Collingwood picked him up.

[Adam The God 30,266]

BB big contracts Dangerfied, Carlisle and shiel

Pick 3 for shiel and late first round gws compo

Pick 4 & toumpas for danger, better than any compo they might get

And gws compo plus second rounder for carlisle and colyer

I like Jimmy, but if we had to give him up to get PD, I think most would be okay with that. We'd be laughing if we got PD, JC and DS. Even Colyer would provide much need line breaking ability. Get them cleared with ASADA and I'd go hard at them. The only position we'd then need to address is the good decision maker/good kick off half back. We could really push next year if we managed all of that. Obviously though, that second top pick means Chip leaves, so it'd be a straight swap for Carlisle, I'm assuming? What happens if we got a PP? It's conceivable (but highly unlikely) that we'd have three picks inside the top 5. Can't see it flying for the AFL. They have a few clubs that are struggling that they'd probably want to get back up and running quickly. I wonder if we could push for a mid to late first rounder as a PP? Could be handy in some trades or picking up another mid.

And then I woke up again.

[beelzebub 23,379]

If we get pick 3 and 4 I hope we keep them and Roos and Taylor back themselves in to pick two special kids

This gives us NO immediate divend and for mine just conitnues this notion that kids are the salvation . Thery arent. They are part of a replenishmnet and regrowth but they are NOT the reason you will climb up a ladder.

Given a decent fwd set up of sorts next year you dont want to starve them game after game. You need a really effective midfield and some depth to it. . Two more kids who might take anywhere from 2-4 seasons to get really going dont add to it , not in a hurry anyway.

By all means get some new young blood but prioritise the recruiting of more Tysons , Vinces, Crosses etc. This immediately steps up the list.

trade 3 and 4

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

So, can someone tell me how good this Petracca bloke is?

(Regardless that the info is from demonland)

Have we got some posters that have seen this guy play live?

Are we talking the 'Oli Wines' of 2015? Looks like they've both got similar physical attributes.

Similar height and both heavy boys.

What's his kicking/vision/decision making like?

Anything would be great.

[What 18,810]

This gives us NO immediate divend and for mine just conitnues this notion that kids are the salvation . Thery arent. They are part of a replenishmnet and regrowth but they are NOT the reason you will climb up a ladder.

How do you know they wont pay immediate dividend?

Oliver Wines, Marcus Bontempelli, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jack Billings, Luke McDonald etc etc

All high picks from the last couple of drafts who impacted immediately

Using our picks doesn't mean we expect the players we take to be our salvation. This isn't the Schwab/Connolly era anymore

[Ted Lasso 19,518]

But HH that is indirectly what you are suggesting,

If we trade we get proven good players

If we draft we get potential good players

I think we need to top off the talent we have with a couple of classy players

Offer prestia 5 years at 750,000 to come home to the club he and his family supported growing up

Offer dangerfield 6 years at 1.2 million, with Clark's salary gone and frawley probably leaving we have huge cap room

Trade pick 3& toumpas for danger

Trade pick 4 for prestia

Trade pick 21 and blease for tommlinson

[beelzebub 23,379]

No its not HH...tfft huh

Ironic that names likes Wines are noted

There will always be some that do...of course.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest history would have us side with a thinking that goes to the notion its often more like 2-3 seasons before most show where they're heading.

We can't keep having the teams age median so low. Cant have games average so low. As long as it is were underdogs and underdone.

We need to recruit some ability and experience. ..and now or its a perpetual game of catch up footy and we never will.

[Machsy 2,858]

So, can someone tell me how good this Petracca bloke is?

(Regardless that the info is from demonland)

Have we got some posters that have seen this guy play live?

Are we talking the 'Oli Wines' of 2015? Looks like they've both got similar physical attributes.

Similar height and both heavy boys.

What's his kicking/vision/decision making like?

Anything would be great.

Kicking / vision has been compared to Dustin Martin.

Not as good imo but should give you a bit of an idea.

Above average.

Very strong body, like Wines.

Big thighs and arms.

Attacks the footy.

Powerful movement and agility in short spaces.

Doesn't really run the lines though.

Doesn't have the tank of Wines, but might be able to build it.

If not...

Very strong overhead mark.

Can dunk a basketball (gives you an idea of athleticism).

Was an impressive HFF last year, but shed a bit of weight and moved into the middle more this year.

Looks like he could actually be an early ROK type, no cliche intended.

I've seen him compared to Fyfe because of his aerial ability as a mid, which is fair.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Sounds like the star mid we've been waiting to draft for how many years now?

[DeeSpencer 25,717]

No its not HH...tfft huh

Ironic that names likes Wines are noted

There will always be some that do...of course.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest history would have us side with a thinking that goes to the notion its often more like 2-3 seasons before most show where they're heading.

We can't keep having the teams age median so low. Cant have games average so low. As long as it is were underdogs and underdone.

We need to recruit some ability and experience. ..and now or its a perpetual game of catch up footy and we never will.

Are we that young though? On the weekend we had Tyson, Viney, Kent, Salem, Barry as guys in their first 3 years. If Cross and Trengove are fit 2 of those guys probably don't play.

The backline hasn't featured a young player all year. Tyson and Viney are the only young guys who have seen midfield minutes and up forward it's been Kent, Salem, JKH that's about it. Hogan will come in to that mix. And Gawn is a young ruck or even a young key forward given the development time they take.

I'm certainly hoping Tyson and Viney (who are already doing well) aren't too many preseasons away from having the bodies of mature midfielders. And Kent and Salem both had significant interruptions in preseason, neither did serious training on the track before Christmas.

We need mature depth and we need top end talent. I wouldn't put one as more important than the other. If the option is there for a Tyson trade then I'm all for it. If the option is there for Vince and Cross types to come to the club then that's what we need as well.

If we have picks 3, 4 and 21 then if you can trade 21 for a Vince compared to pick 4 for someone not significantly better and unlikely to be elite then it might be the right move. Imagine trading pick 4 for Andrew Gaff and him being a pretty boring average wingman and seeing Petracca become a star.

[DeeSpencer 25,717]

Sounds like the star mid we've been waiting to draft for how many years now?

It's all there, but he's still very raw. He's not Jaegar O'Meara ready to go. Unless we hired a new fitness boss (and definitely with Roos' focus on defensive work rate) I'd expect him to start as a forward flanker, I'd be shocked if what I saw at the carnival translated to immediate ability to play midfield time, but then again Wines did it at Port.

[Machsy 2,858]

Sounds like the star mid we've been waiting to draft for how many years now?

Hard to say.

If he can't transition into the midfield properly, i.e. managing to build a tank allowing him to runs the lines and run hard both ways, then he may be stuck playing as a smaller Jack Darling.

Not the worst result in the world, but not what you want from a top 5 pick.

If clubs are confident he will be able to do that, I doubt we'll get a bite at the cherry.

No others in the draft stand out as much as a sure thing to succeed.

I'd be very worried about Wright, McCartin has an iffy kick and suffers a lot of niggles, Goddard was invisible in the champs, Durdin was disappointing most of the time, Brayshaw has nice skills but is one-paced and imo unconvincing, Lamb looks like the 2nd coming of either Jared Brennan or Jarrad Waite, Pickett only showed flashes...

Not a lot standing out that don't have serious question marks over their heads.