Josh Mahoney told @TheRunHome the Dees have narrowed down their potential draft list to four - Petracca, McCartin, Brayshaw and Wright.

http://www.sen.com.au/audio

He definitely said Petrecca, Wright, McCartin and Brayshaw were the four.

DS: Picks 2 and 3 Josh, how many players are you seriously looking at for those positions?

JM: Down to 3 or 4 by now

MA: Brayshaw goes alright Josh

JM: He'd be one of the 3 or 4

Didn't say much on Petracca. Speculates about talls and inside midfielder, or two mids, or two talls.

MA: Paddy McCartin he'd look pretty good

JM: You're trying to get all 4 out of me. McCartin, Petracca, Brayshaw and Wright are around the mark.

I'd say at this stage they know Petracca is going at pick 1. They know they are going for Brayshaw. It will come down to McCartin, Wright and maybe Lever as a smokey that they are keeping under wraps. Really I don't think we learnt anything knew.

This makes me very, very happy (if Josh isn't bluffing)

I've been harping on about taking McCartin or Wright (should Petracca be off the board) to go with Brayshaw from the beginning.

The fact is that after Petracca and Brayshaw, there is no midfielders worth pick two or three. Laverde would be the best bet, but he is an outside player. Lever is a KPD coming off a knee reconstruction, with no exposed form in the past 12 months (resounding no). We have the chance to set up our forward line for the next decade here.

Now, in terms of Wright v McCartin...

Immediate impact: McCartin (Looks ready to go)

Upside: Wright (Potential to be by far the best player in this draft class, I believe)

Versaility: Wright (due to ability to play ruck, hence he might fit in with our structure better)

Kicking: Wright (Incredible for his size)

Power: McCartin (Manhandles opponents whilst possessing an aggressive streak that Wright doesn't have)

Marking: McCartin the better mark for his size, Wright has potential with the big body though.

All that being said, I've been behind Wright the whole time, although I've really warmed to McCartin. Will be extremely happy with either, both have their positives.

God I hope the Saints go tall...

From Paige Cardona's recent Phantom Draft:

A player of Patrick McCartins standing is unlikely to slip past Melbournes compensation pick here at pick three, and there are plenty of reasons why. Touted as the number one pick for the majority of the year, McCartin could be the perfect partner in crime alongside Jesse Hogan, laying the foundations for the Demons forward line for the next decade. McCartin is a genuine, old-fashioned full forward. He busts through packs, takes big contested grabs, inspires with his courage and is always the source of headaches for the opposition. He likes to treat opposition players as if he were going ten pin bowling: he has no regard for his own safety, and his aggression and physicality goes unmatched. McCartin relishes body-on-body contact, and is near unbeatable nor moveable one-on-one. He loves to drag his opponent to the goal square where he puts his contested marking ability to full use, but his quick turn of foot and smart leading patterns means that he is a focal target up forward, capable of taking any oppositions best defender. Hampered by small injuries throughout the year, McCartin hasnt gotten the love or hype he deserves, which is great news for Melbourne fans.

Seems like he would complement Hogan really well too with Hogan being more of a mobile CHF type and McCartin as an inside 50 player.
I like this appraisal a lot. In analysing our situation, we DESPERATELY need another KPF. However, having said that I would like to hope that the following scenarios might play out.

So according to this appraisal I would definitely do the following

If St. Kilda take Mc Cartin at pick one then we must take both Petracca and Brayshaw with picks 2,3. I wouldn't take any other of the talls mooted at 2 or 3 because in my view Mc Cartin is the standout. No one else comes close.

If this situation occurs then I would take the best available KPF at pick 40

If St; Kilda take Petracca then we take Brayshaw and then Mc Cartin.

Win Win

Christ I'll be unhappy if we take McCartin or especially Wright.

But honestly, Mahoney did NOT narrow it down to 4 specific names.

Christ I'll be unhappy if we take McCartin or especially Wright.

But honestly, Mahoney did NOT narrow it down to 4 specific names.

He left a bit of wriggle room 'Machsy'...

I like Petracca, Brayshaw and Wright in that order.

For me:

If the Saints take Petracca, then it's Brayshaw and Wright.

If the Saints take Brayshaw, then it's Petracca and Wright

If the Saints take Wright, then it's Petracca and Brayshaw

If the Saints take someone else (like McCartin), it's Petracca and Brayshaw.

How does Wright differ to Gawn?

I see him as Gawn 2.0

DS: Picks 2 and 3 Josh, how many players are you seriously looking at for those positions?

JM: Down to 3 or 4 by now

MA: Brayshaw goes alright Josh

JM: He'd be one of the 3 or 4

Didn't say much on Petracca. Speculates about talls and inside midfielder, or two mids, or two talls.

MA: Paddy McCartin he'd look pretty good

JM: You're trying to get all 4 out of me. McCartin, Petracca, Brayshaw and Wright are around the mark.

I'd say at this stage they know Petracca is going at pick 1. They know they are going for Brayshaw. It will come down to McCartin, Wright and maybe Lever as a smokey that they are keeping under wraps. Really I don't think we learnt anything knew.

Keeping Lever under wraps? We don't need to keep him under wraps, we have pick 2 and 3, and StKilda aren't taking him.

Keeping Lever under wraps? We don't need to keep him under wraps, we have pick 2 and 3, and StKilda aren't taking him.

There's no good reason to do it. But hey why not have a bit of mystery. The forwards are more likely.

How does Wright differ to Gawn?

I see him as Gawn 2.0

Much more of a natural forward than Max is. Far better kick too. Not to take away from Max though... Feel they could make a great 1-2 punch down the track splitting time in the ruck and goalsquare

How does Wright differ to Gawn?

I see him as Gawn 2.0

Much much better kick. Moves better. More filled out athletic body than Gawn's wiry frame at the same age. Slightly shorter. No previous ACLs. Red hair. No beard.

The plan would be for Gawn to ruck 70-80%, play forward 5-15%. Wright to ruck 20-30%, play forward 60-70%.

We'd be drafting Wright as a forward (I'd hope) who can be less athletic but bigger and stronger than Joe Daniher. Or eventually become something like Kurt Tippett. Gawny has shown an above average ability forward for a ruckman, but he really is a ruckman and so has to be in that position for half a game to have an impact.

I think we understand that players like M. Jones and Mckenzie are not good enough, and Daniel Cross is not a long term option but we have made significant investments in the midfield in the last couple of seasons.

Viney, Salem, Toumpas, Tyson, Michie, Riley and Hunt. Throw in Jkh and Kent rotating through as well. Some we know are good, some we think will develop and a few are unknown quantities, We have also committed to Stretch in this draft. At some stage we need to behave like a decent club and back our recruiting and development.

If our recruiters think that there is a Matty Scarlett or Adam Goodes available I would be horrified if we didn't draft them because they weren't midfielders.

I reckon Matt Jones is okay.

Christ I'll be unhappy if we take McCartin or especially Wright.

But honestly, Mahoney did NOT narrow it down to 4 specific names.

Yes he did. He said at the beginning that it was down to 3-4 players and when pressed he gave 4 specific names: Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin and Wright.

ahah we have picks 2 n 3, i dont think we need to be too cryptic about it, not like other clubs are going to steal our players !

only those bloody st-kilda types, they just can't be trusted. they stole our pick & they want the cake too.

Yes he did. He said at the beginning that it was down to 3-4 players and when pressed he gave 4 specific names: Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin and Wright.

At the moment...

At the moment...

Well what's going to change, they've got all the information now in front of them? There's no footy, interviews or testing left before the draft.

Christ I'll be unhappy if we take McCartin or especially Wright.

But honestly, Mahoney did NOT narrow it down to 4 specific names.

Why? Bizarre post.

Who would you prefer? Lever, a 3rd tall defender who hasn't played footy in 18 months?

Or Laverde, ranked between 5-10 in most phantom drafts?

Or do you know something the recruiting and junior footy experts don't?

Why? Bizarre post.

Who would you prefer? Lever, a 3rd tall defender who hasn't played footy in 18 months?

Or Laverde, ranked between 5-10 in most phantom drafts?

Or do you know something the recruiting and junior footy experts don't?

plus, we have enough backs...

Yes he did. He said at the beginning that it was down to 3-4 players and when pressed he gave 4 specific names: Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin and Wright.

I can tell you that those four names are not the only ones being considered.

The answer was not definitive by Mahoney.

Well, if we accept that what Josh Mahoney is saying is that it's now down to three or four out of Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin and Wright and we also accept that Paul Roos told a meeting of supporters that we wouldn't be taking Wright, the field is actually narrowed down to three and we will draft the two remaining after St. Kilda nominates who it's taking.

Mahoney did not say the 3 or 4 came from the names Petracca, Brayshaw, Wright and McCartin only.

He chose his words carefully, and ducked and weaved, acknowledging that the interviewers were clearly trying to get him to give them the 4 names, but was unwilling.

Well, if we accept that what Josh Mahoney is saying is that it's now down to three or four out of Petracca, Brayshaw, McCartin and Wright and we also accept that Paul Roos told a meeting of supporters that we wouldn't be taking Wright, the field is actually narrowed down to three and we will draft the two remaining after St. Kilda nominates who it's taking.

If Mahoney says that Wright is "around the mark" and Roos has previously suggested that we won't take Wright then you could be forgiven for thinking that either Mahoney and Roos don't communicate, at at odds or something else is going on.

I can confirm that we are "into" other players with Roos himself having very recently conducted interviews with the players and families.

I don't know why but McCartin doesn't do much for me, admittedly only from the couple of highlights vids out there.

Maybe some of those who have seen him live could give a bit more info for me.

Is he quick off the mark?

Agility wise how does he move?

Does he one grab marks?

Is he good below the knees?

Goal kicking? Although it sounds like this may not be a strength from the posts above.

If we draft him I hope he turns into a star but I just don't see it in the highlights.

[quote name="jabberwocky" post="1020006" timestamp=

I can confirm that we are "into" other players with Roos himself having very recently conducted interviews with the players and families.