Turn it up. Petrie had about 3 decent games, 2 towards the end of the year. His own supporters were calling for him to be dropped. Harvey was inconsistent - good highs but rubbish lows - and missed a fair chunk with suspensions. Black had a shocking year and Thomas wasn't as effective as his previous 2 years. Young Brown bobbed up in the second half of the year and made some solid contributions

The difference was their midfield. Adding some class on the outside & having their front-runners working both ways for a change. Greenwood made a huge difference too and they will miss him more than they realise

Agree but they are still a bit ahead of us. Compare it to our forward line and I would think that Thomas and Harvey definitely put them in front and the Brown revelation only adds to that.

The argument will always be made about supply & quality of supply from the midfield v good forwards, I would think you need both. The good teams get the balance right.

A forward line that reads:

Garlett, Hogan, Howe

Watts, Dawes, Kent

looks a great deal more potent. Especially if it is being fed by a well-functioning midfield and back line.

Sorry btd, potent isn't how I would describe that forward line. Incomplete or weak are the words I would use.

Gartlett improves the set, but the others are a mix of unprovens, injured or perennial disappointments. If Kent and Watts are good enough, they should be playing in the midfield.

If Roos' Crew consider McCartin the best available at 2 or 3 then they'll do it.

Turn it up. Petrie had about 3 decent games, 2 towards the end of the year. His own supporters were calling for him to be dropped. Harvey was inconsistent - good highs but rubbish lows - and missed a fair chunk with suspensions. Black had a shocking year and Thomas wasn't as effective as his previous 2 years. Young Brown bobbed up in the second half of the year and made some solid contributions

The difference was their midfield. Adding some class on the outside & having their front-runners working both ways for a change. Greenwood made a huge difference too and they will miss him more than they realise

Turn it up Biff regardless Petrie still kicked 50 goals, Harvey playing midfield still pushed forward and kicked 29 goals.

Lindsay Thomas managed 45 goals this year aswell. Don't know how can sit there and say that Norths forward weren't much chop this year.

It is a reality check to our forward line that we still have a long long way to get to those numbers.

And for your information Aaron Black had a rubbish year but he still managed 26 goals. That's 6 more then our actual leading goal kicker for the year...

Turn it up Biff regardless Petrie still kicked 50 goals, Harvey playing midfield still pushed forward and kicked 29 goals.

Lindsay Thomas managed 45 goals this year aswell. Don't know how can sit there and say that Norths forward weren't much chop this year.

It is a reality check to our forward line that we still have a long long way to get to those numbers.

And for your information Aaron Black had a rubbish year but he still managed 26 goals. That's 6 more then our actual leading goal kicker for the year...

^^ this.

Hate to say it but Norf's forward line is far more dangerous than ours. Bigs and small forwards. For a guy who supposedly was up and down, Boomer did well to collect 15 Brownlow votes at the age of 73. He did spend much of it in the midfield, though.

I would be happy with either Brayshaw and McCartin/Petracca/Wright/Lever.

But I do see the upside in McCartin. Most forwards take a few years to develop, but he should be good to go from round 1 2015. He has been compared to Brendan Fevola (Hope they are talking about his footy!)

I am concerned with his kicking accuracy, but I am sure he can get that fixed up if has help from Hogan (and not Dawes!).

Kicking accuracy is Wright's main strength according to the player reviews [as is his ability to gather below his knees]. It seems that Wright and McCartin both bring different (potential) strengths and it will be a strategic decision of Roos what best meets his strategy. Whichever way we go, we are liely to emerge with a much stringer midfield and forwardline than we boasted this year.

Turn it up Biff regardless Petrie still kicked 50 goals, Harvey playing midfield still pushed forward and kicked 29 goals.

Lindsay Thomas managed 45 goals this year aswell. Don't know how can sit there and say that Norths forward weren't much chop this year.

It is a reality check to our forward line that we still have a long long way to get to those numbers.

And for your information Aaron Black had a rubbish year but he still managed 26 goals. That's 6 more then our actual leading goal kicker for the year...

Hey Dazzler - the question was more about where North's improvement came from

In no way am I comparing their forward line to ours. They have us covered - not only up forward but pretty much everywhere

I still would take 2 mids in the draft. We need to win the midfield & create more opportunties for our forwards, however competent they may be

We will choose either Petracca (if available), Brayshaw or Lever. Forget about McCartin or Wright

We will choose either Petracca (if available), Brayshaw or Lever. Forget about McCartin or Wright

I like it Clit! No ifs or buts (I know you don't do butts). Now I know who we'll pick. Christ I think I'll put a bet on!

I like it Clit! No ifs or buts (I know you don't do butts). Now I know who we'll pick. Christ I think I'll put a bet on!

Should have given you the tip for the Cup yesterday then! Backed the first four, nice collect!

I think we MUST take Mc Cartin if available! My rationale is if, IF Jesse Hogan has further fitness issues we simply cannot ignore our need for more forward firepower> Even if Hogan is ready to go it means we have Hogan, Dawes, Mc Cartin AND potentially Howe returning as a Forward! Should give plenty of teams massive headaches.!!!

With the other draft either Brayshaw Or Petraca depending on who goes at No 1. If Mc Cartin goes first , Pick BOTH mids and hope there's a smoky forward around pick 40

That's my take!

We have, by faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar, the most dysfunctional forward line in the competition. Get McCartin PLEASE. We already got Brayshaw, and Stretch for the midfield...now we need a potential Jonathon Brown!

Mids, mids, mids....that is all folks!

Mids, mids, mids....that is all folks!

have your heard we're not going to go for the big guys

I think we MUST take Mc Cartin if available! My rationale is if, IF Jesse Hogan has further fitness issues we simply cannot ignore our need for more forward firepower> Even if Hogan is ready to go it means we have Hogan, Dawes, Mc Cartin AND potentially Howe returning as a Forward! Should give plenty of teams massive headaches.!!!

With the other draft either Brayshaw Or Petraca depending on who goes at No 1. If Mc Cartin goes first , Pick BOTH mids and hope there's a smoky forward around pick 40

That's my take!

It truly pains me to say it, but I thoroughly agree with you on this matter picket. Our forward line is as flaky as they come.

Yes, we need high quality mids as a priority, but if Brayshaw is the only one available deserving of pick 2 or 3, then for gods sake, we need to take McCartin. With more FAs coming up next year, we may be able to get Danger or the ilk then without giving up draft picks. Here's hoping anyway.

How many mids are we going to have to get before everyone is satisfied, no point just having mids if there is no forward line to get it and score, every draft has lots of reasonably talented mids, you dont get really a log of talented forwards all the time. We will collect at least one mid with our first pick and we have stretch, and likely pick up a couple more mids with pick 40 and our 50ísh pick. as well as letting lumumba and Garlett have a run in the middle. We can also assume that we will get a bit more of our existing mids, and if we go for a tall who can also play ruck they can give Gawn or Jamar a chop out and may help us get some more clearances. We dont want to run the risk again of having a one man forward line should something happen to Hogan or Dawes.

How many mids are we going to have to get before everyone is satisfied, no point just having mids if there is no forward line to get it and score, every draft has lots of reasonably talented mids, you dont get really a log of talented forwards all the time. We will collect at least one mid with our first pick and we have stretch, and likely pick up a couple more mids with pick 40 and our 50ísh pick. as well as letting lumumba and Garlett have a run in the middle. We can also assume that we will get a bit more of our existing mids, and if we go for a tall who can also play ruck they can give Gawn or Jamar a chop out and may help us get some more clearances. We dont want to run the risk again of having a one man forward line should something happen to Hogan or Dawes.

You only have to look at Sydney and Hawthorn and see you need atleast 10 to 13 plays that are able to run through the midfield.

We have about 6 that are genuine midfielders atm.

Isn't Lever a tall?

Why is he part of the equation if Roos doesn't want to draft top end talls?

I hear people say he could be the next Bontimpelli but he could also be the next Cale Morton (who also carved it up in his highlights package).

Lever is also listed (and supposedly best suited) as a key defender. Didn't we just trade for one of those?

I have no problem with drafting Lever but I'm not sure he fits the bill (or Roos' rule for drafting talls).

We will choose either Petracca (if available), Brayshaw or Lever. Forget about McCartin or Wright

agreed... for us >

*Petracca

*Brayshaw

*Lever

*Laverde/Pickett

How many mids are we going to have to get before everyone is satisfied, no point just having mids if there is no forward line to get it and score, every draft has lots of reasonably talented mids, you dont get really a log of talented forwards all the time. We will collect at least one mid with our first pick and we have stretch, and likely pick up a couple more mids with pick 40 and our 50ísh pick. as well as letting lumumba and Garlett have a run in the middle. We can also assume that we will get a bit more of our existing mids, and if we go for a tall who can also play ruck they can give Gawn or Jamar a chop out and may help us get some more clearances. We dont want to run the risk again of having a one man forward line should something happen to Hogan or Dawes.

just keep on churning them out, til we have the best Squad ron

You only have to look at Sydney and Hawthorn and see you need atleast 10 to 13 plays that are able to run through the midfield.

We have about 6 that are genuine midfielders atm.

Yep. I am positive we will draft two mids with pick 2 and 4. As you say 10 - 13 mids is what is required and 6 of them have to be top shelf. I agree we only have six genuine mids and only 3 are top shelf.

As Demoneyes says mids, mids, mids....that is all folks!

Yep. I am positive we will draft two mids with pick 2 and 4. As you say 10 - 13 mids is what is required and 6 of them have to be top shelf. I agree we only have six genuine mids and only 3 are top shelf.

As Demoneyes says mids, mids, mids....that is all folks!

no...you're saying it all wrong. It's not mids mids mids mids.... It's TALENT TALENT TALENT TALENT!. Get the next talented player...which according to most outsiders, is McCartin...

Take McCartin i say, its a lot easier to pinch a good midfielder through free agency or trade rather than a good Key forward, they are few n far between.

So take Brayshaw and McCartin and lets go get a few gun mids in next years trade/free agency? Mitchel and Shiel thanks

no...you're saying it all wrong. It's not mids mids mids mids.... It's TALENT TALENT TALENT TALENT!. Get the next talented player...which according to most outsiders, is McCartin...

Well i don't make the call. And as i say i expect the club will go 2 mids. But if it were up to me me i would also go the 2 best mids. So i would amend your comment to it's TALENT TALENT TALENT TALENT (mids)!

Out of interest, of the top of your head who was the last top 3 draft pick who was/is a KPP and has performed at the level you'd hope for from a top 3 pick (ie a total gun).

Isn't Lever a tall?

Why is he part of the equation if Roos doesn't want to draft top end talls?

I hear people say he could be the next Bontimpelli but he could also be the next Cale Morton (who also carved it up in his highlights package).

Lever is also listed (and supposedly best suited) as a key defender. Didn't we just trade for one of those?

I have no problem with drafting Lever but I'm not sure he fits the bill (or Roos' rule for drafting talls).

While Roosey says there is a risk taking the big boys early so better to go with hard ball getting mids, there is also apparently another stat that says none of the leagues gun power forwards have ever come from outside the top 15 in the AFL draft except for F/S. I heard that one from Scott Lucas on SEN.

Now Darling may be an exception but we all know he should have gone top 10 but for some good scaremongering. But your Buddies, Roughies all came early, not sure of the others in this stat. Jackovich was a number 6. Lucas and Lloyd must have been early picks?

However if true it says maybe you take a punt with McCartin and hope you have found another gun forward to compliment Hogan. Especially if the word on him his true that he is super agressive as a forward. I like that as it compliments Hogan who thrives on physical contact. That would be an interesting forward line I think. I would be happy if we went McCartin, Brayshaw. If Petracca was available I suppose you would take him. But then the dilemma. Petracca and Brayshaw could be a game changer for us.

While Roosey says there is a risk taking the big boys early so better to go with hard ball getting mids, there is also apparently another stat that says none of the leagues gun power forwards have ever come from outside the top 15 in the AFL draft except for F/S. I heard that one from Scott Lucas on SEN.

Now Darling may be an exception but we all know he should have gone top 10 but for some good scaremongering. But your Buddies, Roughies all came early, not sure of the others in this stat. Jackovich was a number 6. Lucas and Lloyd must have been early picks?

However if true it says maybe you take a punt with McCartin and hope you have found another gun forward to compliment Hogan. Especially if the word on him his true that he is super agressive as a forward. I like that as it compliments Hogan who thrives on physical contact. That would be an interesting forward line I think. I would be happy if we went McCartin, Brayshaw. If Petracca was available I suppose you would take him.

Then pick Brayshaw to bolster the midfield.

Words of wisdom from an aristocrat! Leave the commoners to squabble!

Yep. I am positive we will draft two mids with pick 2 and 4. As you say 10 - 13 mids is what is required and 6 of them have to be top shelf. I agree we only have six genuine mids and only 3 are top shelf.

As Demoneyes says mids, mids, mids....that is all folks!

Who are our three top shelf mids?