Snoop Dog:

Sam Weideman (Eastern Ranges / 196cm / 91kg) Terrific young prospect who we just didn't get to see enough of this year but the little we did was super impressive at times.He also showed us a fair bit last year as a bottom ager and suspect had Gary Pert trying to get grandsons included in the F/S rules. Presents as the best tall forward in this draft albeit Harry McKay pretty close for mine. Sam is a natural forward unlike guys like Boyd etc who have been drafted high in previous years. I think coaches really value key forwards that haven't got their success camped in the goal square clunking marks but rather kids who understand how, when and where to lead. He has real speed and many will find it hard to close space on him once he is ahead of them. Once he has the space ahead of him he will use his long arms and good hands to clunk them and his finishing is generally pretty good albeit has scope for some improvement. The knock I have on him is his consistency but that happens a lot with young talls and his kicking at times is a bit erratic. Loads of potential for mine.

Next best kid for mine is Clayton Oliver which would have taken if Melbourne needed another mid but they need a tall forward and hence only other consideration was Harry McKay who was bloody close.

Nice prediction of Weideman and Oliver. How prophetic!

Good hands, beautiful kicking action.

I'm just disappointed my Wayne Weidemann joke fell flat. Maybe nobody remembers who he is.

He's a Vic who played for SA in the state of origin!

Anyone know if he is currently injured or is he ready for day one pre season?

His Grandfather help prevent us winning six in a row.

It will be bloody wonderful when is tearing up the Pies on future QB games.

love it.

A delicious irony.

He is a teenager growing into a tall frame forget about the stress fracture , Hogan had them in the back , stoked to hear he took 12 contested marks in a half v carltons reserves this year . Could be the best player in the draft .

That is just amazing. Was it a one sided game? Was his opponent a weed?

Anyone know if he is currently injured or is he ready for day one pre season?

This^

Interesting comment by Sanderson, who said if he wasn't injured he could have been the best player in the draft. That is some praise.

Melbourne FC ‏@melbournefc 21s21 seconds ago

Jason Taylor on Sam Weideman: "Sam is a key forward from the Eastern Ranges. He’s got elite courage in the air and at ground level #afldraft

Courage in the air.

It's all I need to know.

Anyone know if he is currently injured or is he ready for day one pre season?

Ran 12.4 beep test last week, so he might not be super fit but he is running. Has been running for a while actually.

Courage in the air.

It's all I need to know.

This might be sacrilege or stupidity but I think he could be better than Jesse under a high ball/pack situation.

Jesse is amazing one on one (or even one on two) and working an opponent over in space, plus down right brilliant for a tall for when the ball is on the deck and in contested situations. But he throws himself a bit wildly at pack situations. Weideman seems to have long arms and nice balance in the air. If he basis most of his game on Hogan and develops against men the same way (if not at the same astronomical rate) and is even 3/4's as good as Hogan at most things he'll be a gun.

But his pack marking could be even a step above. His set shot routine at this stage is also much better!

very very happy with this pick. Great bravery combined with an excellent set of hands and a bit of see you next tuesday about him.

Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts and Cale Morton all over again.

That music on the highlights though...

Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts and Cale Morton all over again.

Highly unlikely.

Sanderson commented that Weideman could be the steal of the draft. On talent alone he believes he could be a number one talent. If he was able to get some consistent footy together instead of being injured he believes that he could have been the number 1 draft pick.

If we can get this kids body right then we may have our F50 sorted for the next 10 years.

Seems pretty simple doesn't it? Tall bloke with good hands and a straight set shot. Plonk him inside 50 and you pretty much can't go wrong. That's a sincere comment BTW

Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts and Cale Morton all over again.

with those hands, and that desire?

Thank god you don't post on here very often.

He is the chosen one... he will bring balance back to the force

Just worked out that taking Collingwood royalty as our own is the key to ending the Norm Smith curse!

hair of the dog that bit us

The one - main - thing that separates Hogan and the other good key forwards from Watts is courage in the air. Hogan has it in spades, Watts has none. The fact JT has described Weideman as having 'elite courage in the air' is promising. Let's hope he has better hands than Dawes and kicks straighter than Ben Holland.

good call

The Weideman family and Melbourne go back a long, long way.

Grandfather Murray was one of Collingwood's all time greats and his relationship with Melbourne was particularly firey. There's a story to tell here (and I will tell it) but in the meantime, this is how Knightmare sees the next generation-

not exactly glowing

Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts and Cale Morton all over again.

life ban please

I have to admit, when I hear the name I keep thinking of the guy from the Crows. Different spelling of course.

This was the one guy I wanted In this years draft and when It was talked about that Essendon was going to take him with one of there picks I had given up hope so for us to grab him with our second pick makes me very very happy.

Now let's hope we speak of the amazing era when Hogen and Weiderman dominating our forward line for many years to come!!

Edited November 24, 20159 yr by ILLDieADemon

I must admit after talking to a few ranges associated people earlier i really hoped we'd get Wied. The guy has matural courage. I am most excited about this pick up in this draft.

watched 2 games he played this year, he's no Jesse Hogan, but he's a great contested mark, takes the ball at it's highest point, he's very smart with his leads and no doubt will learn alot from Dawes about this, and he's a lovely set shot at goal, makes the most of his chances

Hogan and Weiderman could be like having Carey and Lloyd in the same forward line