NATIONAL DRAFT PICKS 3 & 7

[dazzledavey36 55,991]

I seem to be on my own here but I'd really love Parish and Balic. Parish seems to be the polish outside type that we've always desperately wanted. Viney Jones Brayshaw Vince all dishing off to him along with his hard running sounds amazing.

Balic is the type of player Melbourne have never had in the last 10 years. Reminds me a little bit of Shaun Burgoyne at Port who looks a really smooth mover, has that extra class than others and kicks goals.

Here's to hoping!

Balic is soft and doesn't fit the 'competitive' category we are after. Personally from watching him he is another Toumpas/Kane lucas type that will struggle at AFL level.

[John Crow Batty 8,886]

It's been a great trading day for the club. I wonder if there are any more surprises?

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Like Jack Darling red flags??

More like Luke Molan or Lucas Cook style red flags.

Plus the knocks on Darling were more off field related. It's well known there are still some large flaws on Weideman's game that he may, or may not, iron out in time. Not sure he is worth the risk.

[KingDingAling 3,758]

You guys are dreaming if you think Francis will last till pick 7.

That's what I reckon. Dangerfield clone for mine. Powerful athlete, reads the play well, balanced on both sides of the body, makes good decisions, versatile, exception tackler, good in and under, great hands. I think Francis is our man at 3.

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

Aaron Francis highlights

Looks a beast, can play anywhere.

[Carn dees 108]

Francis at pick 3 for me.

Good size at 190

can play at either end

and has a beautiful kick reads the play very well and has a great set of hands.

I think Roosey would be right into him, looks like he has all the attributes to make it at afl level.

[What 18,810]

Aaron Francis highlights

Looks a beast, can play anywhere.

No chance he falls past Essendon, and I wouldn't be surprised if we took him at pick 3

[Mousey 47]

Great job Josh and team!

Any chance of the best mates being drafted with each other in Parish and Mathieson to add to the ANB/Stretch combo last year?

To be honest i think we cant go wrong who we pair up. Great position to be in to bring even more talent to this young growing list. Love to see the common characteristic being brought in with free agents, that being "competitors'.

There will be competition for spots and it will be great to watch

Carn the Dees!

[buck_nekkid 6,082]

So if we finish better than 11th, we have done well. We have essentially traded next year's pick (>7) in a deep draft year to get two goes at the top talent of a shallow one. Very, very good thinking. Should be lots of quality deep next year (from reports), so I don't see a problem.

3 and 7 bring us top end talent, I can see the team bringing in a smokey (aka Vanders), upgrading Vanders and Harmes. King to stay a rookie.

Our list, if healthy, starts looking half decent.

Roos has done his job in turning the 'tanker' around (yes, pun intended...)

[demon-4-life 467]

Awesome! Pick 3!

If we get a player half as good as Colin Sylvia, we'll be laughing :D Sorry couldn't help myself.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Some of us have left it a bit late this year but I'm confident we can make up for lost time and become draft experts within a month.

[Demonsone 2,050]

Well done to the MFC.. Let's all be positive they will draft the right character traits required to play afl @ the level required... There are no guarantees in the draft but I think the club has the right people to make the right choices & it's clear the foundations laid by Roos & co will give a clear direction as to the types of players needed...

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

After a very poor start to the week I am both amazed and impressed that the club were able to come home so strongly. Once again we've worked really well with GWS to get a great result. For some reason they seem to like trading with us and the last few years we've had some really good, profitable and presumably fair trades with them. Burning our first round pick for next year is a bit of a concern, especially if we were really looking at bringing Prestia in, but realistically I think this is an amazing result.

I think I may need to admit to jumping the gun on my earlier comments that the recruiting staff need to be sacked.

[Moneider96 1,045]

I have a feeling we will pick up Rhys Mathieson. Sounds Joel Sewlood/Ollie Wines like.

Anyone know much about him?

[MadAsHell 4,217]

3. Parish

4. Weideman ( Bombers into him)

5. Mathieson (They'll want the next best mid)

6. Milera (Gold Coasts Bennell replacement)

7. Curnow/Francis (we take our pick)

[Moneider96 1,045]

Nvm just saw Mathieson's highlights. His disposal is shocking

[ChaserJ 5,189]

Nvm just saw Mathieson's highlights. His disposal is shocking

Can lack polish and needs work on his endurance, and not super quick.

Very competitive, good inside player and is definitely a footballer not an athlete. Shades of Lenny Hayes, but he probably sits a little bit lower than where we are picking.

[KingDingAling 3,758]

I have a feeling we will pick up Rhys Mathieson. Sounds Joel Sewlood/Ollie Wines like.

Anyone know much about him?

In and under, contested ball getter. Not as clean as Wines/Selwood. But one thing that interested me about Mathieson was that he tested very well in the vertical leap - which suggests he is probably a better athlete than he is given credit for. The knock on Mathieson (from Knightmare -big footy) is that his kicks lack penetration, and he is one paced. Suggested there are better on-ballers in the draft.

[DeeSpencer 26,486]

3. Parish

4. Weideman ( Bombers into him)

5. Mathieson (They'll want the next best mid)

6. Milera (Gold Coasts Bennell replacement)

7. Curnow/Francis (we take our pick)

I think Gold Coast would love Curnow. They were in to Howe and Scotty Clayton loves his athletic types.

I wonder if Essendon will think Curnow is a bit similar to Laverde and Langford.

[Redleg 42,048]

Aaron Francis highlights

Looks a beast, can play anywhere.

He was Carlton's first choice after Weitering and I think is GC's first after Weitering and Schache go.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Is it just me, or does it feel like this year the bulk of the top10 seemed to have a lot of question marks over them.. what I mean is that it seems these days if you want to become a great player you can't really be lacking in anything. If you are too slow, too soft, too short, can't kick etc that one flaw will render you unfit for battle. Just doesn't seem like we have any 'complete packages' to choose from this year.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

The best mid and CHF with these two picks.

[Adzman 2,154]

Would be happy with Parish at #3, provided he gets a haircut...

I remember early draft talk about Rhys Mathieson being a top 5 pick early in the year. He hasn't been mentioned much since. What happened to him?? He was supposed to be a good midfield prospect.

[P-man 13,367]

More like Luke Molan or Lucas Cook style red flags.

Edit - plus the knocks on Darling were more off field related. It's well known there are still some large flaws on Weideman's game that he may, or may not, iron out in time. Not sure he is worth the risk.

Deja vu. I had this exact exchange with OD today.

[Gator 18,017]

I've made it clear that I'm not across this year's draft, however, Parish is (presently) a slightly built outside mid. History tells you that strongly built inside mids taken in the top 10 have something like an 80% success rate. It drops off markedly for other types.

I'll be very interested in who they take at pick 3, Clearly Parish won't make it through to pick 7.

Is Curnow more a mid than a tall forward, the other way round, or equally adept at both ?

While Francis can play mid or forward he apparently plays his best footy as an athletic intercept defender. He looks a real talent, albeit still a bit raw from recent videos.

Taylor has been terrific so far and I'll back whatever he and the club decides. I suspect Parish will need to be really good to be taken at pick 3 given the time he'll take to develop.