I'm going to believe that all this Cockatoo/De Goey/Lever stuff is people guessing, because I'm sick of Melbourne reaching. Take Braywhaw and McCartin, they're the best rated for a reason and we can't avoid to go high risk.

I'm going to believe that all this Cockatoo/De Goey/Lever stuff is people guessing, because I'm sick of Melbourne reaching. Take Braywhaw and McCartin, they're the best rated for a reason and we can't avoid to go high risk.

What we really cant afford is to totally mess it up in the same way we have in the last 7 years. But low risk is neither the best option nor will it hold back the criticism and anger if we blow it. We've all been well and truly burned and thats the baggage we bring in to this draft as a club. Personally I hope we can get past that and that the recruiters think well and freely about it and don't get too affected by who's rated where when they're making their choices.

I'm going to believe that all this Cockatoo/De Goey/Lever stuff is people guessing, because I'm sick of Melbourne reaching. Take Braywhaw and McCartin, they're the best rated for a reason and we can't avoid to go high risk.

We didn't reach. We picked the kids we were meant to - that all the 'experts' said were 'sure things' - and you will revise history once more if Brayshaw and McCartin don't make the grade.

They are 'best rated' right now by some self-proclaimed experts, but will they be in 4 years time?

People so quickly forget how highly rated Watts, Morton, Scully and Toumpas were prior to the draft.

Not that all are duds, but all perceived as such by certain factions.

any chance he slides to pick 40?

What we really cant afford is to totally mess it up in the same way we have in the last 7 years. But low risk is neither the best option nor will it hold back the criticism and anger if we blow it. We've all been well and truly burned and thats the baggage we bring in to this draft as a club. Personally I hope we can get past that and that the recruiters think well and freely about it and don't get too affected by who's rated where when they're making their choices.

Two weeks ago, Cockatoo was being talked about as a bolter into the HIGH 20's. The problem with the bloody draft and being as high as we are is that the recruiters have easy options, but there's so much time between picks and draft that they attempt to be clever. Just take the best bloody footballers.

We didn't reach. We picked the kids we were meant to - that all the 'experts' said were 'sure things' - and you will revise history once more if Brayshaw and McCartin don't make the grade.

They are 'best rated' right now by some self-proclaimed experts, but will they be in 4 years time?

Gysberts and Cook are the two guys I'm talking about. I still support the Toumpas selection, Watts is too soft but every chance to play 200, Morton was just shite.

FWIW, it was only during draft week that we decided on Watts. Naitanui and Rich were the consensus picks before his championships.

Two weeks ago, Cockatoo was being talked about as a bolter into the HIGH 20's. The problem with the bloody draft and being as high as we are is that the recruiters have easy options, but there's so much time between picks and draft that they attempt to be clever. Just take the best bloody footballers.

You would have to think that the Dom go home factor must be in the back of clubs minds when they look at Cockatoo. I expect only a top club who has talent to spare will take a chance on him.

Two weeks ago, Cockatoo was being talked about as a bolter into the HIGH 20's. The problem with the bloody draft and being as high as we are is that the recruiters have easy options, but there's so much time between picks and draft that they attempt to be clever. Just take the best bloody footballers.

Gysberts and Cook are the two guys I'm talking about. I still support the Toumpas selection, Watts is too soft but every chance to play 200, Morton was just shite.

FWIW, it was only during draft week that we decided on Watts. Naitanui and Rich were the consensus picks before his championships.

Gysberts and Cook were ND11 and ND12. We have ND2 and ND3 and we have picked the 'expert consensus pick' with ND4 in 2007, ND1 in 2008, ND1 and ND2 in 2009, and ND4 in 2012.

I think there is a massive difference between a pick in the top 4 and those in the teens.

From those 5 picks in the top 4 we are going to get a long, maligned career out of one of them, possibly two.

The 'experts' were wrong, those that criticise 'reaching' in this AFL Teenage Lottery Draft overlook history and our past experience.

This is a huge factor. People talking about his one game. This was not against even the best players of his own age group. Not against picking him if the recruiters who have much more detail on him think he is the right pick. But don't get to carried away on how good he looks from one game against junior opposition. I also can't think of a single top 3 pick from the NT. Or even a top 10 pick. There have been some terrific players from the NT but they are coming from along way back in elite development.

Jarred Brennan's a top 3 pick from the NT that comes to mind, a while ago though.

You would have to think that the Dom go home factor must be in the back of clubs minds when they look at Cockatoo. I expect only a top club who has talent to spare will take a chance on him.

why? This argument is old and cyclical. Apparently we didn't choose Natanui because of the "go home" factor and others think that doing that was a "disgrace" in that we didn't back ourselves in to keep him. If he looks like the one we want Id expect us to back ourselves.

Two weeks ago, Cockatoo was being talked about as a bolter into the HIGH 20's. The problem with the bloody draft and being as high as we are is that the recruiters have easy options, but there's so much time between picks and draft that they attempt to be clever. Just take the best bloody footballers.

Gysberts and Cook are the two guys I'm talking about. I still support the Toumpas selection, Watts is too soft but every chance to play 200, Morton was just shite.

The "best bloody footballers" are not always the ones everyone thinks they are at 18! Id back roos in to spot one young in front of most...and if thats cockatoo Id be wrapped. I dont CARE wheres hes ranked. Fyfe was pick 23.

Re Cook and Gysberts. Cook was a dumb mistake as he was taken as a "needs" player that looked good at 18 and Gysberts was well......... Gysberts. An inside mid with the body of an outside mid but with no pace, desire or application. I think our recruiting team isnt run by kindergarten students now. At least I hope so!

Gysberts and Cook were ND11 and ND12. We have ND2 and ND3 and we have picked the 'expert consensus pick' with ND4 in 2007, ND1 in 2008, ND1 and ND2 in 2009, and ND4 in 2012.

I think there is a massive difference between a pick in the top 4 and those in the teens.

From those 5 picks in the top 4 we are going to get a long, maligned career out of one of them, possibly two.

The 'experts' were wrong, those that criticise 'reaching' in this AFL Teenage Lottery Draft overlook history and our past experience.

You keep going on about this but I think you are way off the mark, we picked our consensus pick which happened to align with the so called experts. Not the other way around.

I don't think we played safe and didn't want to upset the experts, I truly believe the picks we made were our own (poor) decisions. If you have any evidence to the contrary I would like to know.

You keep going on about this but I think you are way off the mark, we picked our consensus pick which happened to align with the so called experts. Not the other way around.

I don't think we played safe and didn't want to upset the experts, I truly believe the picks we made were our own (poor) decisions. If you have any evidence to the contrary I would like to know.

You are missing my point - I am not saying the club was handcuffed into making these decisions. I am criticising the ethos of some fans that intimate a player 'can't be taken this early, that would be a reach' when the 'reach' won't be known to be that for years.

The experts tell us who we should select once again, and probabilities say it is BS - they don't know.

So whoever Roos and Taylor and Viney see as the best bet at ND2 and ND3 should be judged in a few years time, not in the immediate aftermath of the draft; those judgements come from ignorance.

I expect Geelong to "reach" a little and select Ellis, who is probably rated around 12-20 by consensus.

Not that I know anything, just my opinion.

He fits their list, is a bit of a "quiet achiever" in terms of draftees and we all know Wells often picks from left field.

Those predicting Wright to go to Geelong are well off, I think, and we'll see another Brodie Grundy-like "steal" at around pick 20.

Grundy has been visible and competent (at times) but he's hardly a game changing superstar, after being picked at 20, but predicted top 3 in the early days.

You are missing my point - I am not saying the club was handcuffed into making these decisions. I am criticising the ethos of some fans that intimate a player 'can't be taken this early, that would be a reach' when the 'reach' won't be known to be that for years.

The experts tell us who we should select once again, and probabilities say it is BS - they don't know.

So whoever Roos and Taylor and Viney see as the best bet at ND2 and ND3 should be judged in a few years time, not in the immediate aftermath of the draft; those judgements come from ignorance.

I agree with you on this, and I believe they will rank the players as they see it. Whether they agree with the mock draft experts I really don't care.

The so called experts rely a lot on tips from clubland and connections to the kids to do their rankings, they are not just using their "expert eye for talent".

Gysberts and Cook were ND11 and ND12. We have ND2 and ND3 and we have picked the 'expert consensus pick' with ND4 in 2007, ND1 in 2008, ND1 and ND2 in 2009, and ND4 in 2012.

I think there is a massive difference between a pick in the top 4 and those in the teens.

From those 5 picks in the top 4 we are going to get a long, maligned career out of one of them, possibly two.

The 'experts' were wrong, those that criticise 'reaching' in this AFL Teenage Lottery Draft overlook history and our past experience.

Hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

I remember a certain Jordan Gysberts being twice nominated for a rising star. He showed plenty.

As for Cook he was an All Australian under age CHF.

It is easy to critisise now but both showed potential.

Some bag Morton, but at times he was really good, I saw him beat Adam Goodes one day, he looked like a future star.

Sometimes things go wrong, injury, attitude, homesickness, lack of drive. Bad drafting results happen at other clubs too.

Some bag Morton, but at times he was really good, I saw him beat Adam Goodes one day, he looked like a future star.

Greatest Demonland myth of all time. If not for Goodes Sydney would have lost to Melbourne by 20 goals that day.

Hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

I remember a certain Jordan Gysberts being twice nominated for a rising star. He showed plenty.

As for Cook he was an All Australian under age CHF.

It is easy to critisise now but both showed potential.

Some bag Morton, but at times he was really good, I saw him beat Adam Goodes one day, he looked like a future star.

Sometimes things go wrong, injury, attitude, homesickness, lack of drive. Bad drafting results happen at other clubs too.

The fact remains we have recruited poorly. I understand the desire to say 'look other clubs have f-ed up!' but not to the extent that we have.

I am not certain you disagree with anything that I am saying really...

And Morton did not beat Goodes that day - in fact, Goodes was the only Swan to beat his man...

The fact remains we have recruited poorly. I understand the desire to say 'look other clubs have f-ed up!' but not to the extent that we have.

I am not certain you disagree with anything that I am saying really...

And Morton did not beat Goodes that day - in fact, Goodes was the only Swan to beat his man...

As I said hindsight is a wonderful thing.

My recollection was that Morton beat Goodes, as you rightly say, Goodes was the only one to beat his man. So I was wrong.

Morton did play some good games, (I think)

Richmond have had some draft disasters.

I was not trying to disagree with you.

Greatest Demonland myth of all time.

The "Mark Neeld overruled Todd Viney on Ollie Wines" truthers also deserve a mention.

The "Mark Neeld overruled Todd Viney on Ollie Wines" truthers also deserve a mention.

i always thought it was the other way around?

I was under the impression Neeld had a raging............ for Wines.

I've just purged the thread.

If you racially stereotype, expect your post and all ones after it to be deleted. Some may think racial stereotypes don't equal racism - well I think it does and will moderate accordingly, and this is not up for debate.

Cheers.

Perhaps it's time to start handing out bans to repeat offenders. This site will be a much better place for it.

Greatest Demonland myth of all time. If not for Goodes Sydney would have lost to Melbourne by 20 goals that day.

Morton got a lot of touches in his early days but they weren't really damaging. His biggest problem was he was so slow to get ball to foot, under pressure he was terrible.

It's sad but he just wasn't able to translate his footy to the highest level

Oh, almost forgot, you're absolutely right

Jarred Brennan's a top 3 pick from the NT that comes to mind, a while ago though.

I'm glad you nominated one. I couldn't think of one and didn't look to check.

I think the standard of NT development has not kept up with other states, which is a sad state of affairs. Theres quite a lot of talent up there. I've gone and watched some games when I've been up there ( watching the dees) and its fun to watch.

It's a very big shock for their players to step into an AFL team environment. This is part of the reason for declining NT picks and perhaps even half of them have been boarding interstate.

For me cockatoo is a chance to go anywhere from maybe us at 3 to perhaps even the 30's.

Morton got a lot of touches in his early days but they weren't really damaging. His biggest problem was he was so slow to get ball to foot, under pressure he was terrible.

It's sad but he just wasn't able to translate his footy to the highest level

Oh, almost forgot, you're absolutely right

I still remember Morton trying to emulate Cameron Bruce with that arm poised to handball, selling candy like black jelly beans, slow as treacle, caught every time.

It was bad enough when Bruce did it.

To all the racists in this thread. I think Cockatoo will have the final word.

Pot Kettle...

"I'd avoid Indigenous players from remote backgrounds. "