65-35 towards mccartin now I am told, concerns about petraccas testing don't seem to have any merit this is about the fact mccartin is the key forward and midfielders will be easier to find

Yes.

So easy.

So very easy.

<Jon Lovitz from Wedding Singer gif>

the lack of tall forwards in the next draft leads to a bit of an issue for StKilda, who have lost all confidence in Tom Lee and have fingers crossed on Spencer White. That is the only reason McCartin Sticks out for them surely.

I personally would prefer McCartin and Brayshaw, but if we get Petracca and Brayshaw hopefully that gives us a quality midfield for many years to come.

Would mean instead of trying to get Shiel from GWS we would need to throw money at a KPF free agent. That said there will no doubt be a key forward or two that shows promise next year and hopefully that leaves us in the market for them because we need one more tall forward, unless Fitzy comes on ridiculously this year.

im happy whoever we get, obviously the fact that the #1 pick is so close means both McCartin and Petracca are great prospects so whoever we get, along with brayshaw is super exciting

Direct quote from Alan Richardson in today's AFL.com.au article:

"If we go for the best player and we think Petracca is in front, we’re going to have to pay a million plus to get the forward we need. The market is saying that now. So let's get one in now and get him to fall in love with our footy club."

Now that's either been taken out of context (quite possibly), or that is a blatant indication of them preparing their supporter base for overlooking Petracca.

Or alternatively giving life to speculation over the picks at the pointy end where everyone is beginning to, or has already completely lost interest.

More important than that is we now have a coaching staff that should be able to develop them to their potential

No, the most important part is getting the picks right.

No, the most important part is getting the picks right.

Yes, I wonder what player taken in the teens will end up being the best player from this draft...

Yes, I wonder what player taken in the teens will end up being the best player from this draft...

Thats the problem in a nutshell.

The best 17yo doesn't necessarily turn into the best 22yo.....

Oh crystal ball....

Thats the problem in a nutshell.

The best 17yo doesn't necessarily turn into the best 22yo.....

Oh crystal ball....

or conversely one of these....

No, the most important part is getting the picks right.

No the most important is developing any ounce of talent they have.

I know this will open the debate again but it is no coincidence that nearly every single draft pickwe have had has either bombed or reached the lofty heights of "average". Further to this, it is no surprise that Roos has gone all out to get a top notch development team into our club.

These top ten kids all have talent - it is maximising it that is key. We have been deplorable at this.

Thats the problem in a nutshell.

The best 17yo doesn't necessarily turn into the best 22yo.....

Oh crystal ball....

nonsense - every one of these kids is either a jet/gun or a spud and fair dinkum if don't draft ....(insert gun's name here) it will be the biggest mistake we have ever made.

No the most important is developing any ounce of talent they have.

I know this will open the debate again but it is no coincidence that nearly every single draft pickwe have had has either bombed or reached the lofty heights of "average". Further to this, it is no surprise that Roos has gone all out to get a top notch development team into our club.

These top ten kids all have talent - it is maximising it that is key. We have been deplorable at this.

I'm in the camp that says it's a combination of both drafting and development but what I don't really understand is why our development has been so poor.

Is it because we've had the wrong development coaches, the wrong senior and line coaches or that we've had to promote these kids early and being played in the seniors in a poor team at a young age has meant they haven't developed? Is it the lack of good senior players?

At least we can't complain about the lack of first class facilities.

No the most important is developing any ounce of talent they have.

I know this will open the debate again but it is no coincidence that nearly every single draft pickwe have had has either bombed or reached the lofty heights of "average". Further to this, it is no surprise that Roos has gone all out to get a top notch development team into our club.

These top ten kids all have talent - it is maximising it that is key. We have been deplorable at this.

Talent and attitude (or mindset) to be the best. Jones has thrived under our previously [censored] development team, others have not. Who was that West Coast guy who just gave the game away?

It is development and attitude- without both u have nothing, or a Blease. Part of getting the pick right is not just development, the kid needs to have the right stuff between the ears which is part of the recruitment process too- mental aptitude.

nonsense - every one of these kids is either a jet/gun or a spud and fair dinkum if don't draft ....(insert gun's name here) it will be the biggest mistake we have ever made.

I agree nutbean.

Can the doubters remember a guy called Lucas Cook.

I'm in the camp that says it's a combination of both drafting and development but what I don't really understand is why our development has been so poor.

Is it because we've had the wrong development coaches, the wrong senior and line coaches or that we've had to promote these kids early and being played in the seniors in a poor team at a young age has meant they haven't developed? Is it the lack of good senior players?

At least we can't complain about the lack of first class facilities.

Are they the first class facilities without any dunnies?

I've heard that having to hold it in does retard growth and development too!

So we just need a porta loo and up the ladder we go...

I knew it.

Thats the problem in a nutshell.

The best 17yo doesn't necessarily turn into the best 22yo.....

Oh crystal ball....

it's also affected by who drafts them

still have to wonder where Morton would be if the Eagles had got him 5 years earlier

I'm in the camp that says it's a combination of both drafting and development but what I don't really understand is why our development has been so poor.

Is it because we've had the wrong development coaches, the wrong senior and line coaches or that we've had to promote these kids early and being played in the seniors in a poor team at a young age has meant they haven't developed? Is it the lack of good senior players?

At least we can't complain about the lack of first class facilities.

I agree - it is not entirely one or the other. We have certainly made some drafting errors - but to have so many junior footballers who were talented according to the spotters both from our club and other clubs/media and have so few go on to be successful makes you question our development.

The questions you posed as possible reasons are the answers IMO. Youngsters at better clubs are made to wait their turn, have less expectation placed on them and are blessed to have good senior players around them.

I use Gunston as an example. Granted, he was showing good signs when the Hawks recruited him but he was clearly the third choice forward behind Roughy and Buddy - to let him have the third best tall defender on him and having other teams worry about Buddy and roughy cannot be under estimated - yet we are still a little caught in mire and can't wait to see how Hogan tears it up next - the same Hogan who is yet to play a senior game. ( even though Roos does hose down draftee expectation). Your other point about how poor we have been. It is self fulfulling - Gunston leads out and his leads are honoured and he is hit lace out on the chest by the likes of mitchell and co. We few entries into the forward line and ordinary disposers of the ball - miss the target and the result is two fold - the mids dont pull the trigger often enough for fear of missing the target and the target does lead often enough because the leads are rarely honoured.

I agree - it is not entirely one or the other. We have certainly made some drafting errors - but to have so many junior footballers who were talented according to the spotters both from our club and other clubs/media and have so few go on to be successful makes you question our development.

The questions you posed as possible reasons are the answers IMO. Youngsters at better clubs are made to wait their turn, have less expectation placed on them and are blessed to have good senior players around them.

I use Gunston as an example. Granted, he was showing good signs when the Hawks recruited him but he was clearly the third choice forward behind Roughy and Buddy - to let him have the third best tall defender on him and having other teams worry about Buddy and roughy cannot be under estimated - yet we are still a little caught in mire and can't wait to see how Hogan tears it up next - the same Hogan who is yet to play a senior game. ( even though Roos does hose down draftee expectation). Your other point about how poor we have been. It is self fulfulling - Gunston leads out and his leads are honoured and he is hit lace out on the chest by the likes of mitchell and co. We few entries into the forward line and ordinary disposers of the ball - miss the target and the result is two fold - the mids dont pull the trigger often enough for fear of missing the target and the target does lead often enough because the leads are rarely honoured.

It's not that long ago that Hawthorn were a bit of a joke - the 2004 "line in the sand game" vs Essendon seemed to me to be that at the time. Brereton geeing up Richie Vandenburg and despite the fighting they still got smashed. Fast forward to 2008 and the joke was on me. Clarkson, Vandenburg and some great recruiting later ...

It's not that long ago that Hawthorn were a bit of a joke - the 2004 "line in the sand game" vs Essendon seemed to me to be that at the time. Brereton geeing up Richie Vandenburg and despite the fighting they still got smashed. Fast forward to 2008 and the joke was on me. Clarkson, Vandenburg and some great recruiting later ...

Too right ... and to think that we didn't get Brad Sewell at the time when Ryan Ferguson knocked back the opportunity to go to the Hawks because they were a pack of duds.

Oh to have a pack of duds.

it's also affected by who drafts them

still have to wonder where Morton would be if the Eagles had got him 5 years earlier

The irony of that view is that the Eagles passed on Morton with the pick before ours...

it's also affected by who drafts them

still have to wonder where Morton would be if the Eagles had got him 5 years earlier

Playing in the WAFL

3aw about to talk to the number 1 draft pick. Paddy is coming on now so it is clearly official that the saints are taking this kid.

They are talking number 1 mantle and how to handle it

I have never heard a draft year with so many rehearsed lines. Petracca and McCartin say the exact same thing in every interview.

All I can think is that in 48 hours time I will be deliriously happy.

We'll either have a 2nd gun forward, making our young forward line the envy of all others, bar GWS (even then Patton is crocked), or alternatively we'll get an explosive, powerful 2nd coming of Colin Sylvia with a better head on his shoulders, and the best contested-ball-winning pure mid in the draft who is slightly bigger than Wines and a better kick.

And all our problems will be solved

Just like this time last year.