Francis looks like the "sure fire" gun to me. I say we take him with 3- develop Frost as the second ruck/forward, then take the best available mid at 7. But I do like Parish as well, with that Cousins like breakaway movement from stoppages.

So you're wanting to take a player whose best position is intercept defender and hope we can make him a quality forward ?

I'm not saying we shouldn't btw, it's just I'd prefer the best natural forward at P7.

stmj and PD - we are talking past each other for the sake of argument.

I don't have the energy today - we all agree the forward line will revolve around him and that he will spend time up the ground, but, hopefully, closer to goal predominantly.

This kid at 7 better be special to get space close to goal in Hogan's Forwardline and that won't be for years.

Would Ryan Burton be a reach a pick 7? I guess the major issue is how his leg has recovered, but before that it seems he would have been top 5. I also like that he has a bit of strut about him and would complement Jesse well.

There's a 2 part story on Ryan on the AFL website which includes some highlights and Ryan talking about the injury and recovery:

Part 1 - http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-04/going-places-the-moment-that-could-have-ended-ryan-burtons-afl-dream

Part 2 - http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-11-05/going-places-20-months-without-footy-but-burton-might-still-go-top20

stmj and PD - we are talking past each other for the sake of argument.

I don't have the energy today - we all agree the forward line will revolve around him and that he will spend time up the ground, but, hopefully, closer to goal predominantly.

This kid at 7 better be special to get space close to goal in Hogan's Forwardline and that won't be for years.

...aye and theres the rub.

Which is why id still get a mid at 7 as we will see him in at worst '17 where as a kiddue kpp fwd wont be worth much more than chop liver until '18/'19....unless you're JH ver 2.01 and ive heard none mentioned in despatches. In that same time frame youd be able to find a rtg kinda guy to do support id have thought. Just mho of course.

If we value Hogan more as a CHF

Why wouldn't we go after Schache if he is still available at 3.

Then we could pick up Francis or Parish at 7

Because he won't be there at 3...fairly simple.

Because he won't be there at 3...fairly simple.

probably not, but then toumpas wasn't going to be available at 4 either

Entirely different story and circumstance.

Reason I prefer Ollie is because I can see him breaking a game open and dominating and being a game changer. I can't see that in Parish.

Not a mock-draft: The top 30 kids in this year's AFL Draft

The Doyen of drafts, Emma Q draft order (to me it is a defacto 'Best Available' list as she ignores who has what pick):

1 - 6: Academy/Carlton/Brisbane picks

7 - Francis, Utility

8 - Weidman, Foreward

9 - Milera, Foreward

10 - Oliver, Midfielder

11 - Parish, Midfielder

12 - Curnow, Foreward

13 - Mc Kay (Harry), Foreward

14 - Ah Chee, Foreward

15 - Burton, Foreward

She has Mathieson at 20.

Last year Emma had 9 of the top 10 picks right, almost in exact draft order.

So her rankings, really turns the table (for me) on who we take @ #3: 'Best Available' vs 'Need'.

In an interview last week Taylor said at the top end we would take 'Best Available'.

I also had the impression we would take a Mid and a Utility...Francis @ #3 or do we hope he goes thru to #7?

Oh, to be a fly on the wall to know how we rank 'Best Available' order!!

where dd you get this list? It is not in the article

where dd you get this list? It is not in the article

The interactive/photo features are her rankings, the numbers are in the top right corner.

Reason I prefer Ollie is because I can see him breaking a game open and dominating and being a game changer. I can't see that in Parish.

How many players in the comp break games open more than once or twice a season? The best 5-10 key forwards, the rare freak talent small (Rioli, Wingard, Betts) and maybe the top dozen midfielders?

Oliver has size, agility and hardness that makes him attractive for sure. But if his kicking, endurance and smarts aren't there it's unlikely he breaks open many games. Ziebell is prime example of a player who could break open nearly any game but rarely does.

Forget all the time he's missed injured and look at his good form this year and back when he won the coaches award or whatever it was and Marc Murphy's ball use and ability to rack up touches had a fair degree of hurt factor, but due to his size and lack of phenomenal athletic ability even without all the problems (injury, captaincy, terrible team) he's rarely going to break open a game. Nick Dal Santo might be another in that category.

Parish is the best ball user. Oliver maybe the best ball winner. Unfortunately seems we can't have both. So the question becomes who will develop and produce to their potential the most.

How many players in the comp break games open more than once or twice a season? The best 5-10 key forwards, the rare freak talent small (Rioli, Wingard, Betts) and maybe the top dozen midfielders?

Oliver has size, agility and hardness that makes him attractive for sure. But if his kicking, endurance and smarts aren't there it's unlikely he breaks open many games. Ziebell is prime example of a player who could break open nearly any game but rarely does.

Forget all the time he's missed injured and look at his good form this year and back when he won the coaches award or whatever it was and Marc Murphy's ball use and ability to rack up touches had a fair degree of hurt factor, but due to his size and lack of phenomenal athletic ability even without all the problems (injury, captaincy, terrible team) he's rarely going to break open a game. Nick Dal Santo might be another in that category.

Parish is the best ball user. Oliver maybe the best ball winner. Unfortunately seems we can't have both. So the question becomes who will develop and produce to their potential the most.

I certainly agree with oliver, he looks the goods, just because a lot of other sides are touting Parish as the best does not mean that would actually pick him. A would expect a lot of disinformation from those who have picks behind us hoping we will take the obvious pick, the one they all agree is good, well good for us not them. Parish looks too thin and may find the step up into AFL will test him, as Jimmy and other have been found wanting. I would use our other pick for a tall, someone to help out in the ruck and up forward. Max needs help so does Hogan.

Another reason I'd like Parish is that he's exactly what we need. He complements our midfield perfectly.

How many players in the comp break games open more than once or twice a season? The best 5-10 key forwards, the rare freak talent small (Rioli, Wingard, Betts) and maybe the top dozen midfielders?

Oliver has size, agility and hardness that makes him attractive for sure. But if his kicking, endurance and smarts aren't there it's unlikely he breaks open many games. Ziebell is prime example of a player who could break open nearly any game but rarely does.

Forget all the time he's missed injured and look at his good form this year and back when he won the coaches award or whatever it was and Marc Murphy's ball use and ability to rack up touches had a fair degree of hurt factor, but due to his size and lack of phenomenal athletic ability even without all the problems (injury, captaincy, terrible team) he's rarely going to break open a game. Nick Dal Santo might be another in that category.

Parish is the best ball user. Oliver maybe the best ball winner. Unfortunately seems we can't have both. So the question becomes who will develop and produce to their potential the most.

Oliver's fine with the ball as shown with his perfect kicking score at the combine. Also is more dangerous around goal then Parish which is what we need from our mids

Reason I prefer Ollie is because I can see him breaking a game open and dominating and being a game changer. I can't see that in Parish.

And we would have a player called "ollie" which we missed out on previously!

Oliver's fine with the ball as shown with his perfect kicking score at the combine. Also is more dangerous around goal then Parish which is what we need from our mids

Call me old fashioned. .combine tests where the GIVE you the ball is next to useless in adjudicating a mid surely. Their job is to GET it. Parish can.

Combines are fluff

Call me old fashioned. .combine tests where the GIVE you the ball is next to useless in adjudicating a mid surely. Their job is to GET it. Parish can.

Combines are fluff

Actually Ollie gets the ball better then Parish. Just sayin

probably not, but then toumpas wasn't going to be available at 4 either

Shame he wa....

Actually Ollie gets the ball better then Parish. Just sayin

maybe maybe not ..but combines are useless...window dressing

maybe maybe not ..but combines are useless...window dressing

tend to agree although i'd say grossly over-rated rather than useless, at least as a means to grade players

So you're wanting to take a player whose best position is intercept defender and hope we can make him a quality forward ?

I'm not saying we shouldn't btw, it's just I'd prefer the best natural forward at P7.

I rate Francis the best looking natural footballer, so I think we should take him. That would mean we'd probably be able to move Frost into the second ruck/forward role. We already played Frost forward for a bit and he was serviceable, and he doesn't have to be a world beater anyway because of Hogan.

It would be dumb to take a player because they were a natural forward f they weren't as good a footballer as Francis. Stockpile the talent. I'm a YouTube recruiter, what would I know anyway

Actually Ollie gets the ball better then Parish. Just sayin

The stats say different, Parish averaged 28 disposals and your man Ollie 24...just sayin

He may well be the better player but we have seen a couple of bulls in Moloney and Silvia at out club who have been next to useless...I'm not going to use stats and some highlights tapes to tell me he is the one.

I watched one of the championship games with Parish and have seen some of his highlights. He didn't enthuse me in the game I saw and in fact I thought his reflexes were below average. In his highlight tape some of his quick give offs reminded me of Sam Mitchell who does break games open with his clever ball use.

So what to think, go with the guys who have credits in the bank and who watch these kids for at least a couple of years and in some cases many more. If we take Parish there will be good reasons that we have.

I do worry about a kid who has come from out of nowhere seemingly. The other Ollie had a pretty good body of work to back him up so I don't see like for like here...again not saying he won't be a player, I just haven't seem enough or know enough about him. He seems to have surprised himself with his season this year, is it just a one off?

Parish is a must for pick 3

Clear choice.

Who's this Hipwood chap at 6? Another nsw academy kid?

So 3 and 7 in reality is pick 7 and 11. Going by Emma Q.

These academies are getting out of hand! Seems completely unfair that Sydney would keep getting top 5 picks when have won two flags in last 10 years and are generally in the top 4.