5 minutes ago, Beetle said:

Correct....We've become so accustomed to the value of draft picks over the past ten years, its become like an addiction to hold onto them for dear life...

I'm not sure people are angry about giving up early picks to take to the draft, but rather it's harder now to do other deals

[delete]

Edited October 11, 20177 yr by david_neitz_is_my_dad

6 minutes ago, Jaded said:

It's a good deal and there's nothing to say we can't trade back into the first round next year. 

Glad we got it done. 

I suspect that is why we got next years 3rd round to start accumulating points to trade with one of the clubs who have academies.

5 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Three mate. I'm iin the we paid overs but we get a bloody good going kid who we know can play. Pick 10 might have become our newest Lucas Cook. 

This. History hasnt been kind for us as a whole in the last decade. Poor choices, complete busts and injuries. Sure there have been a few diamonds in teh rough, but taking Lever is rock solid choice. We dont have to put years of development into him. He's ready to go and will only get better.

1 minute ago, poita said:

This will make three years in a row that we've traded out of the first round. Those are the actions of a team that is premiership contention, not one that can't even finish top 8.

We have a below average midfield, with terrible depth across the board. Pick 35 in a weak draft is basically worthless, I'm not sure why we bothered asking for it.

So why the hell have we given up two first round picks, both of which could be in the top 10, for a defender? I'm sure he'll be a good player for the club, but we need to stop the ball getting down there, not worry about what happens when it gets there.

Every year it seems as though we talk tough and end up capitulating as time ticks away. Other teams must [censored] themselves laughing when they see us coming.

I'm bitterly disappointed that we've given up any chance of landing a top quality midfielder either this year or next. 

 

 

I’m reasonably confident that the young kids we’ve already got can continue to develop.

2 minutes ago, poita said:

This will make three years in a row that we've traded out of the first round. Those are the actions of a team that is premiership contention, not one that can't even finish top 8.

We have a below average midfield, with terrible depth across the board. Pick 35 in a weak draft is basically worthless, I'm not sure why we bothered asking for it.

So why the hell have we given up two first round picks, both of which could be in the top 10, for a defender? I'm sure he'll be a good player for the club, but we need to stop the ball getting down there, not worry about what happens when it gets there.

Every year it seems as though we talk tough and end up capitulating as time ticks away. Other teams must [censored] themselves laughing when they see us coming.

I'm bitterly disappointed that we've given up any chance of landing a top quality midfielder either this year or next. 

 

 

Go and take a deep breath... you’re overreacting and have limited insight into what the club is doing behind the scenes. Pick 35 is a good pick.  

28 minutes ago, ignition. said:

Isn't next years draft rated as another or near-superdraft? No wonder Adelaide were adamant on getting our first round pick. STUPID!

Every second year is touted as the next "superdraft". Actually it seems "next years" draft is always the "superdraft" but next year never comes.

Guys please be happy for once we have a guy 1 who wanted to come to us and 2 and is proven a good player.

We are on the right Trac/ track with this one, bring on 2018 can't wait.

I was one who didn't want too pay overs but when you think about all the picks we have had in past years that have turned out to be duds, we will be ok so lets be happy to get Jake Lever at our club.

Just now, stevethemanjordan said:

It's absolutely relevant given they were one win away from winning a GF.

Is it not?

I'll repeat that: They made a Grand Final with a list that was devoid of top-end talent. 

We have plenty already. I don't understand the annoyance. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

I'm not arguing that a club can not build a team using late picks and development.

But on that note look lets look at the premiers: Cotchin #2, Martin #3, Riewoldt #13, Rance #18, Ellis #15, Caddy #7, Rioli #15 (all first round picks). 

I'm arguing about currency. We have no Leverage, excuse the pun, to draft or trade a "star" in next years super-draft.

I'll repeat that I'm thrilled we got Lever. But Mahoney & co. could and should have played it better.

After watching Lever life most of this year I think its a fair trade, maybe slightly overs but that's life.

 

We just improved our football team by a number of percentage points immediately 

Sounds expensive but wrapt to have Jake with us.

13 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It's not really a gamble, he's a proven commodity. Overpaying is not the same as gambling.

The gamble is going into the next two drafts without a first round pick (assuming we don't pick any up in trades before then).

Just now, Stretch Johnson said:

We just improved our football team by a number of percentage points immediately 

Oh yer big time

While on the face I can see how it could appear to be overs, i'm very happy with this deal. Living by the philosophy Goody talked about in his bnf speech - this is us loosing sight of the shore.

[censored] weak effort to capitulate to soon and give in to the deadshit crows.

24 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Rapt with this.

Three AA squad members now in our back 6 plus the improving Oscar, speedster Hunt and developing Frost.

Some outside speed and Weideman stepping up would help complete a very talented side.

Agree.

Leaving aside questions about the weird homo erotic analogies (we've been reamed, bent over again etc etc) the deal is fine.

Considering Taylor's record we could well have a smokey earmarked for pick 35 or 3rd round and as we all know outside say the top 12 the draft is a lottery anyway.

Many people argued we were bent over with Melk and even Hibberd. Melk is in our best 22 and Hibberd has been a suburb pickup - have we ever recruited a player who got selected in the AA team in their first year with us (or even subsequently?).

As you say PD Lever is a perfect fit for our back line and i have no doubt it is the reason we were so keen to land him. 

Th other thing that has to be factored in is doing the trade early makes our trading a lot simpler now.  We know what have in hand and what we can't offer. If the lever trade had held up other deals - which it may well have if not done to say the final day - this would have had unintended consequences and may well have cost us a player we were keen on.

Good job Mahoney and crew.

What a crook and [censored] deal! Club never ceases to amaze me how we just cave in so easily!

Not happy!!?

According to the following, we will be going to the draft with picks 27,35 and 45.

http://m.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-10-12/melbourne-secures-lever-in-trade-deal?camefrom=EMCL_1895168_76481353

4 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

The gamble is going into the next two drafts without a first round pick (assuming we don't pick any up in trades before then).

The message is that we back our list and believe that we have the high end talent to win a flag. 

We have bent over on this one. Lever better be an a grader for us.

For every top 10 pick in Oliver there's a Grant, Vickery, Butcher, Moore, Aish, Toumpas, Morabito, Conca, Gorringe, Gumbleton, O'Rourke, Morton, Buntine, Sumner, & Freeman.

These are the more recent top 10 fails (injuries included), but there are also plenty who are just solid foot soldiers.

Lever is the best young defender in the game with a decade ahead of him.  He's only going to get better.  He fits into a perfect profile in that he's in the same age bracket as Viney, Hogan, Petracca, Salem, Oliver, Brayshaw, Hunt, Osca, ANB, Stretch, and Weideman.  That's a great core who'll grow together.

You've got to give to get and I'll take the certainty of Lever over the speculation of pick 10 and a future pick in the teens.  As we get better we'll also have other players keen to join the club.

But I ask you, how many recent top 10 draft picks have Adelaide, Sydney, and Geelong had since 2008.

Adelaide's last top 10 draft pick was in 2008.  They also got Brad Crouch in a mini draft.  So let's say two top 10 quality players in 9 years.

Since 2008 Sydney have had 2 top 10 draft picks, plus Heeney, who would have been.  Three in 9 years.

Since 2008 Geelong have had 1 top 10 draft pick.  One in 9 years - and that was pick 10 itself.

Let's throw in Hawthorn.  Since 2008 Hawthorn have had zero top 10 draft picks.  Zero in 9 years.

Melbourne ?

Ten in 9 years, including Hogan from the mini draft.

You can [censored] and moan about giving up pick 10 and a future pick in the teens, but we've had our time in the draft and it's now time to get proven quality players into the club and start making an assault on the ladder and competition.

It was a no brainer and I couldn't be happier.

Edited October 12, 20177 yr by ProDee

2 first round picks for a defender??? Hate to see what a good forward is going for these days

Rapt to get Lever, we have some serious young talent now Lever, Hunt, Oliver and Petracca in the AFLPA Under 22 team.

We can revisit who won this trade in 5 years time.

13 minutes ago, Travis16 said:

I'm not sure people are angry about giving up early picks to take to the draft, but rather it's harder now to do other deals

Not so sure it is. If watts moves on we will have 3 second round picks to play with.