I actually found this interview on the AFL site with some of Chris Pelchen's views fascinating:-

No such thing as a draft smokey': Chris Pelchen sorts fact from fiction.

But then I read about this kid and I reckon he's your smokey, just as Jayden Hunt was last year-

Runs on the board: gun cricketer nominates for the draft

According to Inside Football writer Brett Anderson on SEN tonight, Melbourne is one of the club's interested in him.

I actually found this interview on the AFL site with some of Chris Pelchen's views fascinating:-

No such thing as a draft smokey': Chris Pelchen sorts fact from fiction.

But then I read about this kid and I reckon he's your smokey, just as Jayden Hunt was last year-

Runs on the board: gun cricketer nominates for the draft

According to Inside Football writer Brett Anderson on SEN tonight, Melbourne is one of the club's interested in him.

rookie or #53 ??

I actually found this interview on the AFL site with some of Chris Pelchen's views fascinating:-No such thing as a draft smokey': Chris Pelchen sorts fact from fiction.

But then I read about this kid and I reckon he's your smokey, just as Jayden Hunt was last year- Runs on the board: gun cricketer nominates for the draft

According to Inside Football writer Brett Anderson on SEN tonight, Melbourne is one of the club's interested in him.

Probably just a tad early to call Jayden Hunt a smokey - I had always thought that meant a late pick who became a star eg Chris Grant, (or James Hird the once famous footballer) not merely a late pick per se. That is not to write Jayden off, but no way I could call him a smokey at this stage

My understanding of a "smokey" in the context of the draft is someone who gets selected well ahead of where they normally would - as in coming out of the clouds. In Hunt's case, he wasn't predicted to be selected in the draft and was unheard of by all bar a few draft watchers, hence the smokey tag.

Given that there's little to compare him with, he is more likely to be picked as a rookie if at all this year unless a club has been following him closely and like what they see. In that case, a late draft pick.

Probably just a tad early to call Jayden Hunt a smokey - I had always thought that meant a late pick who became a star eg Chris Grant, (or James Hird the once famous footballer) not merely a late pick per se. That is not to write Jayden off, but no way I could call him a smokey at this stage

Yep as WJ the smokey refers to being an unknown in the draft. The performance only relates to whether you end up remembering them!

Anyway, the Pelican says

Best available - fiction - clubs stick to their best available at the start before going for needs, that makes sense

Smokeys don't exist - pretty correct, think about it, if you find a good player hiding somewhere it's likely that players coach, friends, family etc have all tried to get them on the draft radar, so other teams will check them out as well

Night before the draft =BS - I'd hope that's true, why panic and make a last minute call?

And so on with some pretty logical stuff

Certainly a better than average afl.com.au article

My thoughts on the "smokey" conversation is that 90% of players drafted have the goods, whether they make it or not is dependant on attitude and the club's ability to develop players. Hawthorn and Geelong are great examples of this, yes they have brilliant recruiters but they also have implemented a great system for development and recruiting.

Anyway, the Pelican says

Best available - fiction - clubs stick to their best available at the start before going for needs, that makes sense

Smokeys don't exist - pretty correct, think about it, if you find a good player hiding somewhere it's likely that players coach, friends, family etc have all tried to get them on the draft radar, so other teams will check them out as well

Night before the draft =BS - I'd hope that's true, why panic and make a last minute call?

And so on with some pretty logical stuff

Certainly a better than average afl.com.au article

He calls it fiction and then shows it to be a fact. Best available has always been about the top end of the draft, this is where you make your best available call not later in the draft.

Sorry 'Georgiou', I thought the article was pretty average and a bit of an ego stroke for the pelican...

Surely a smokey is a selection that nobody expected at that stage, a surprise, an unseen or unforeseeable selection... because of the smoke.

I actually found this interview on the AFL site with some of Chris Pelchen's views fascinating:-

No such thing as a draft smokey': Chris Pelchen sorts fact from fiction.

But then I read about this kid and I reckon he's your smokey, just as Jayden Hunt was last year-

Runs on the board: gun cricketer nominates for the draft

According to Inside Football writer Brett Anderson on SEN tonight, Melbourne is one of the club's interested in him.

Good Call WJ - I know I haven't posted for a while but I can guarantee we will be all over Pat McKenna

If you do your digging you will notice that one of the Melbourne recruiting staff is an ex premiership player at Gisborne FNC (where McKenna has played his junior and senior football).

Where there is smoke there is fire - the kid should have been playing TAC footy this year but he elected to play senior football for Gisborne. He played at both ends of the ground and managed to kick bags of goals when played forward.

We could do worse with a rookie selection. I'm not sure we would use one of the 4 ND picks we have though.