I just hope our picks are bullish and AFL ready, Round 1, 2015.

Petracca hurt his hip in the 3k run...

Petracca hurt his hip in the 3k run...

Oh, no! I can't cope!

After so many failed draft picks, surely the MFCSS won't strike again???

No. We picked two players with dodgy hips.

Toumpas & Tapscott.

Good point. But who's got dodgy hips in this draft?

No we didn't and that's been put on here enough to become a Demonland myth. Tapscott injured his hip in his first preseason with us.

Source....

MB: When did the hip injury happen and how did it occur?

LT: It was last December. The first-year boys were doing a three-on-three handball drill and I slipped on a sprinkler cap, when Jack Trengove was chasing me. I did the splits and my hip didn’t like it and I tore the labrum. Then, I went on the Christmas break and it was OK. I did some running and came back, but it got sorer and sorer. I got some scans and they found out what was wrong, so I went straight in and had surgery.

I'm slightly leaning towards Lever but then again, I'd be pretty satisfied with either McCartin, Wright or Petracca (if available).

Those "highlight" packages are more just any time a player is involved in the game, good or bad.

Edited October 19, 201410 yr by Clint Bizkit

I'm hoping Petracca & Brayshaw but thinking that is unlikely

Not beleiveing any of this talk about Pickett flying into contention

I'm warming to Lever after hearing of his dedication to rehab and leadership qualities, but also understand why the club may also look at Mcartin

I think we can take it to the bank Brayshaw will be a Dee next season, just a matter of who is the other one

Hope - Petracca & Brayshaw

Like - Brayshaw & Lever

Okay/Understand - Brayshaw & Mccartin

Outside chance - Brayshaw & Laverde

I'm hoping Petracca & Brayshaw but thinking that is unlikely

Not beleiveing any of this talk about Pickett flying into contention

I'm warming to Lever after hearing of his dedication to rehab and leadership qualities, but also understand why the club may also look at Mcartin

I think we can take it to the bank Brayshaw will be a Dee next season, just a matter of who is the other one

Hope - Petracca & Brayshaw

Like - Brayshaw & Lever

Okay/Understand - Brayshaw & Mccartin

Outside chance - Brayshaw & Laverde

I cannot understand how so many Demonlanders do not even look at Peter Wright as an option, particularly as he appears to be Boyd Mark II. Looking at his highlight reels of him taking leading and pack marks [albeit against smaller bodies than AFL] there is no reason that a combination of him and Hogan would not be as formidable as Hogan and McCartin. His kicking is dead-eye, from an angle or from beyond 50 metres out. Of course, whatever the speculation and arguments on this Forum, it will be Roos and Co who will make the call on the day and bear responsibilty for putting together a team capable of making us a serious Finals contender yet again.

I cannot understand how so many Demonlanders do not even look at Peter Wright as an option, particularly as he appears to be Boyd Mark II. Looking at his highlight reels of him taking leading and pack marks [albeit against smaller bodies than AFL] there is no reason that a combination of him and Hogan would not be as formidable as Hogan and McCartin. His kicking is dead-eye, from an angle or from beyond 50 metres out. Of course, whatever the speculation and arguments on this Forum, it will be Roos and Co who will make the call on the day and bear responsibilty for putting together a team capable of making us a serious Finals contender yet again.

Echoing my thoughts exactly.

I cannot understand how so many Demonlanders do not even look at Peter Wright as an option, particularly as he appears to be Boyd Mark II. Looking at his highlight reels of him taking leading and pack marks [albeit against smaller bodies than AFL] there is no reason that a combination of him and Hogan would not be as formidable as Hogan and McCartin. His kicking is dead-eye, from an angle or from beyond 50 metres out. Of course, whatever the speculation and arguments on this Forum, it will be Roos and Co who will make the call on the day and bear responsibilty for putting together a team capable of making us a serious Finals contender yet again.

I thought there were whispers that the club WAS possibly considering two metre Peter ??

Brayshaw and McCartin or Brayshaw and Wright...fine by me.

if we do go 2MP then some others already at the club might be on borrowed time ( if not already )

I'm hoping Petracca & Brayshaw but thinking that is unlikely

Not beleiveing any of this talk about Pickett flying into contention

I'm warming to Lever after hearing of his dedication to rehab and leadership qualities, but also understand why the club may also look at Mcartin

I think we can take it to the bank Brayshaw will be a Dee next season, just a matter of who is the other one

Hope - Petracca & Brayshaw

Like - Brayshaw & Lever

Okay/Understand - Brayshaw & Mccartin

Outside chance - Brayshaw & Laverde

The talk about Pickett strikes me as the club doing due diligence on any/all the players who should be around the mark. Around the time of the champs I believe we were big fans of Pickett. With a more consistent finish to the season, he probably would have been well in contention, but I think after weighing up the pros and cons, Pickett will likely fall below some of the other mids.

Fair to say that after the first four, it’s incredibly even this year. Even more so once you factor needs into the equation.

If the club bypassed the next big thing, at least we’d have some established, considered reasons as to why we bypassed a certain player (outside of ‘nobody else ranked him that high, either’).

With regard to Wright, my opinion is formed after multiple viewings. What he is capable of on the field is awesome. He just hasn’t been able to do those things when it’s counted, often enough. I have questions over his aggression and competitiveness, which doesn’t mean he won’t show these things a the next level, but you are speculating whether you can coach it into him. He will take time to develop into a consistently effective AFL player, and the consistent message is the club doesn’t have time to wait.

Wright’s potentially a 4-6 year project, and given the way free agency and player movement is going, there’s an additional layer of risk involved in drafting a player who will take time to contribute.

As a general rule, does anyone else get concerned when only a handful of players are being talked about? My point is, there seems to be such groupthink amongst supporters and clubs alike about who the top prospects are (usually based on U18 form), however over the past five years there have been very few stars to emerge from the pointy end of the draft.

As a general rule, does anyone else get concerned when only a handful of players are being talked about? My point is, there seems to be such groupthink amongst supporters and clubs alike about who the top prospects are (usually based on U18 form), however over the past five years there have been very few stars to emerge from the pointy end of the draft.

I agree with you - the only group think that I agree with is the "don't draft tall"* with early picks group think.

We need midfield talent and they come on quicker and the best talls of the last ten years come from every part of the recruitment infrastructure, the mids come from the the top 40 picks in most cases.

* the asterisk is for exceptional talents.

I agree with you - the only group think that I agree with is the "don't draft tall"* with early picks group think.

We need midfield talent and they come on quicker and the best talls of the last ten years come from every part of the recruitment infrastructure, the mids come from the the top 40 picks in most cases.

* the asterisk is for exceptional talents.

what about a ** ??

** looming additions to the midfield at end of season 2015 ?

Rome wasnt built in a day. We wont solve all our deficiencies in one , even two , trade drafts .

As i recall our greatest downfall this year ( apart from tiring ) was there was no confidence to kick it forward and it seemed to come hurtling back at great knotts due to no quality forward line might make the mids stand taller and go harder. Can be very soul destroying to see all your handiwork come unglued all the time.

Tend to agree with the " draft best talent , trade for need" outlook

I agree with you - the only group think that I agree with is the "don't draft tall"* with early picks group think.

We need midfield talent and they come on quicker and the best talls of the last ten years come from every part of the recruitment infrastructure, the mids come from the the top 40 picks in most cases.

* the asterisk is for exceptional talents.

That should read don't draft rucks. If you have a great tall kpp then go for it, the best kpp's generally come from first round draft picks.

Edited October 20, 201410 yr by rjay

what about a ** ??

** looming additions to the midfield at end of season 2015 ?

Rome wasnt built in a day. We wont solve all our deficiencies in one , even two , trade drafts .

As i recall our greatest downfall this year ( apart from tiring ) was there was no confidence to kick it forward and it seemed to come hurtling back at great knotts due to no quality forward line might make the mids stand taller and go harder. Can be very soul destroying to see all your handiwork come unglued all the time.

Tend to agree with the " draft best talent , trade for need" outlook

So we should avoid getting a mid with Pick 3 because we might get a few mids 12 months from now?

Mids that are being chased by 9 other Victorian clubs and their own club as well?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the...wow! have you guys seen how many birds are in the bush?

Yeah, nah.

McCartins highlights are quite poor actually.

Were they seriously the best ones they could come up with.

this is all I get to see as well and couldn't agree more - if you hadn't heard and read the group think on where certain players would be drafted and saw the highlights of Lever and McCartin - you would hands down put Lever as a better choice.

As a general rule, does anyone else get concerned when only a handful of players are being talked about? My point is, there seems to be such groupthink amongst supporters and clubs alike about who the top prospects are (usually based on U18 form), however over the past five years there have been very few stars to emerge from the pointy end of the draft.

And they don't develop in the order they are selected either.

Revisionist drafting would have Bontempelli as pick one from last year and Wines from the year before.

There is a reason that Roos has said on countless occasions regarding drafting - "My thoughts are that they're too young the kids and it's too much of a lottery,"

So we should avoid getting a mid with Pick 3 because we might get a few mids 12 months from now?

Mids that are being chased by 9 other Victorian clubs and their own club as well?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the...wow! have you guys seen how many birds are in the bush?

Yeah, nah.

If that was the VERY best outcome why not ?

All these players get chased every bloody year and the gems either appear often later or on the 'market shelf"

If the best outcome of the best talent was a tall and a mid.. yep.

Isn't it "wonderful" that no matter how many posts and pages we all write on here, the club will take who "they" want.

I wouldn't have said that about the previous recruiters.

That should read don't draft rucks. If you have a great tall kpp then go for it, the best kpp's generally come from first round draft picks.

The following doesn't definitely answer this question but of the top 21 goalkicking talls this season - 16 were not F/S, u/17 Priority selections, and NSW academy selections - and those players were taken at:

1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 26, 29, 32, 71, 75, and Rookie Draft.

Now, Riewoldt, Roughhead, Pavlich, Kennedy, and Franklin are the exceptional talents taken in the top 5.

The job of Viney, Taylor and Roos is to work out whether McCartin is akin to those talents.

this is all I get to see as well and couldn't agree more - if you hadn't heard and read the group think on where certain players would be drafted and saw the highlights of Lever and McCartin - you would hands down put Lever as a better choice.

Long time reader. Just thought i'd let you in on something I have stumbled across.

As has been mentioned earlier. Those "highlight" packages are more just any time a player is involved in the game, good or bad.

To view the actual highlights for each player, you can do this through the afl site (at this stage petracca does not have his clip up).

Jake Lever:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2013-12-12/gun-draft-hopeful-grounded

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-jake-lever

Angus Brayshaw:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-13/angus-brayshaw-highlights

Patrick McCartin:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-patrick-mccartin

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2013-08-07/patrick-mccartin-highlights

Peter Wright:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-peter-wright

Also, the AIS game they played against Collingwood earlier in the year can be seen at (Brayshaw does some impressive things in this game):

For the record. Brayshaw and McCartin (assuming Petracca goes one).

The following doesn't definitely answer this question but of the top 21 goalkicking talls this season - 16 were not F/S, u/17 Priority selections, and NSW academy selections - and those players were taken at:

1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24, 26, 29, 32, 71, 75, and Rookie Draft.

Now, Riewoldt, Roughhead, Pavlich, Kennedy, and Franklin are the exceptional talents taken in the top 5.

The job of Viney, Taylor and Roos is to work out whether McCartin is akin to those talents.

Absolutely and it's why the talk of mids, mids, mids and Roos doesn't take talls is not necessarily correct.

Most of the top KPP come from first round picks or would have been first rounders if they weren't F/S.

edit: If we're talking rucks it's a whole different ball game. Many get confused between the 2 and lump them together.

Edited October 20, 201410 yr by rjay

Long time reader. Just thought i'd let you in on something I have stumbled across.

As has been mentioned earlier. Those "highlight" packages are more just any time a player is involved in the game, good or bad.

To view the actual highlights for each player, you can do this through the afl site (at this stage petracca does not have his clip up).

Jake Lever:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2013-12-12/gun-draft-hopeful-grounded

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-jake-lever

Angus Brayshaw:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-13/angus-brayshaw-highlights

Patrick McCartin:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-patrick-mccartin

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2013-08-07/patrick-mccartin-highlights

Peter Wright:

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-14/draft-prospect-peter-wright

Also, the AIS game they played against Collingwood earlier in the year can be seen at (Brayshaw does some impressive things in this game):

For the record. Brayshaw and McCartin (assuming Petracca goes one).

This reaffirms to me how much I want Wright (assuming Petracca is off the board).

Preferences:

1. Petracca and Brayshaw

2. Brayshaw and Wright

3. Brayshaw and McCartin

4. Brayshaw and Lever/Laverde.

Edited October 20, 201410 yr by Guest

I've said it before, but Wright's kicking for a 203cm bloke

Absolutely and it's why the talk of mids, mids, mids and Roos doesn't take talls is not necessarily correct.

Most of the top KPP come from first round picks or would have been first rounders if they weren't F/S.

edit: If we're talking rucks it's a whole different ball game. Many get confused between the 2 and lump them together.

I wouldn't take a ruck in the first 50 picks.

The point I am making with regard to talls vs smalls is, unless, they are a latent talent ahead of the mids in the draft class, they should be overlooked until all those similar talented mids are off the table.

I just would not invest the same amount in a tall that is as talented as a mid.

The return is quicker, the development is more assured, and you know more of what you are getting because their body doesn't give them an advantage the way that taller kids get an advantage in junior footy.

Essentially, if you can throw a blanket over them - take the mid.