Melbourne list profile:

With the fizzer of a draft period coming to a close I thought it would be interesting to look at where our list is at now and think about whether there are any obvious areas of need for the draft. 

I’ve split our list into our grand final team (minus medical sub), the players pushing for spots or there as backup for our out and out stars (obviously we’re not going to drop Gawn or Jackson for Majak for example but if one of them is injured he pushes for the spot) and longer term prospects we are developing that would be unlikely to push for a spot immediately (unless they pull a Jake Bowey) but who we would hope would be pushing for, or owning a spot in years to come.

Where I have listed players in multiple roles it’s because there is potential for them to play both roles. Matchups, injuries or form may have them play a different role to their normal position. Tomlinson for example looked at his best in the third KPD role that Petty plays but if both are fit and firing there is a possibility that Tomlinson could push for a medium defender spot, like the role played by JSmith/Hibberd towards the end of the season. Or if injuries mean Brayshaw needs to play mid, Jordan can play wing (and did this year). So here goes:

RUCK: 

INCUMBENTS:

Max Gawn

Luke Jackson

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Majak Daw

DEVELOPING:

 

MIDFIELD

INCUMBENTS:

Clayton Oliver

Christian Petracca

Jack Viney

James Harmes

Tom Sparrow

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Jakes Jordon

Luke Dunstan

DEVELOPING:

Bailey Laurie

??Kye Declase??

 

WING:

INCUMBENTS:

Ed Langdon

Angus Brayshaw

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP:

James Jordon

Oskar Baker

Jayden Hunt?

DEVELOPING:

Fraser Rosman 

 

KEY POSITION DEFENDER

INCUMBENTS:

Steven May

Jake Lever

Harrison Petty

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Adam Tomlinson 

Joel Smith

DEVELOPING:

Daniel Turner

 

MEDIUM/SMALL DEFENDERS:

INCUMBENTS:

Christian Salem

Trent Rivers 

Jake Bowey

Michael Hibberd

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Jayden Hunt

Adam Tomlinson

Joel Smith

??Marty Hore??

DEVELOPING:

Deakyn Smith

 

KEY POSITION FORWARDS:

INCUMBENTS:

Ben Brown

Tom McDonald

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Sam Weideman

Mitch Brown

DEVELOPING:

 

MEDIUM/SMALL FORWARDS:

INCUMBENTS:

Bailey Fritsch

Kozzie Pickett

Charlie Spargo

Alex Neale-Bullen

CHALLENGERS/BACKUP

Jake Melksham

Kade Chandler

DEVELOPING:

Toby Bedford

Bailey Laurie

 

Looking at our list this way, unsurprisingly for the reigning premiers (man it feels good to write that!), we have few weaknesses, if any, and in most spots there is genuine competition.

The beauty of this is I think we can go best available at the draft with no fear or regrets, as we could do with one more in most spots and we have few, if any, desperate needs. 

This being said the areas where our list might be a little thin are:

A true backup/developing ruckman. Majak could play backup ruck but also has been more of a ruck/forward in the past, with Bradtke and Nietschke both going off the list this year we have the option of doing this with a category B rookie or a delisted free agent as well as through the draft. 

Another winger/outside mid would be good. Ed Langdon carries so much structurally for our team, having another player coming through in this position would be great. 

A young KPF/KPD, these positions are hotly contested atm but that would provide the ideal environment for a young key position player, who usually take another longer, to take their time, develop and hopefully push our boys not to get complacent. 

Whaddaya reckon fellow demonlanders?

(Mods if there is a better thread for this please merge)

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by deejammin'

Best available mid.

As you said, Langdon carries a lot of the load on the wing, so another outside mid would be ideal.

Alternatively if there's one that ticks all boxes and has both strength and speed, like Goater, that'd be even better.

Really hope we don't go tall with our first pick (unless someone is a slider who is too good to pass up), having Weid & Tomlinson as backups at this stage which is healthy depth. 

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by adonski

14 minutes ago, adonski said:

Best available mid.

As you said, Langon carries a lot of the load on the wing, so another outside mid would be ideal.

Alternatively if there's one that ticks all boxes and has both strength and speed, like Goater, that'd be even better.

Really hope we don't go tall with our first pick (unless someone is a slider who is too good to pass up), having Weid & Tomlinson as backups at this stage which is healthy depth. 

I agree re a hybrid or outside running mid being our number one draft target if we go for need. I think if there’s an outside mid there at 17 that we really rate that’s what we’ll take. 

I also agree key position is less urgent and wouldn’t go 17 unless someone like Amiss slides or there’s a Taylor smoky player in the draft. I do think it would be a good idea to get one somewhere though. Mitch Brown is gone in 2023, a full year of development for a young key player behind all of those guys could be gold, rather than getting someone raw in 2023.

Edited October 13, 20213 yr by deejammin'

Best available.

As we have seen with Angus (wingman not insider) and BBB (offering up the ground away from the goal square) players can be moulded when given a specific role that differs from the reason they were drafted and when coached approriately.

This will become more common in the future.

A lot of work there deejammin’, looks like you have covered all bases and I also agree that another young quality outside mid / winger would provide that additional coverage if we cop injuries. Another Trent Rivers type I.e 188cm defender / mid would also be good. Lol!!

39 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

A lot of work there deejammin’, looks like you have covered all bases and I also agree that another young quality outside mid / winger would provide that additional coverage if we cop injuries. Another Trent Rivers type I.e 188cm defender / mid would also be good. Lol!!

Did I read somewhere that long term Rivers might eventually want to play midfield? I’m sure it’d be great but also he’s such a good HBF it might be a shame. Two of him so we could try one as a mid would be ideal!