On 19/11/2022 at 01:23, ChaserJ said:

Allan, Jefferson & George are sounding like the primary targets at 13, could miss on all three if we trade back to 20. Not out of the question that we could still upgrade pick 37 without giving up 13, but I'd want more than an upgrade of a 2nd round pick to trade out of the first round entirely.

An interesting watch will be whether Sydney bid on Giants Academy player Rowston ahead of GWS' picks at the end of the 1st rd. Another live trade option could present itself.

Given we have two second rounders next year I would have thought trying to use one of those to upgrade 37 to a pick in the 20s this year would be appealing 

  On 19/11/2022 at 01:12, Mach5 said:

I’d think if it becomes clear that Allan is not going to be available at our first pick, we would then be much more inclined to complete a trade like the mooted 13 & 37 for 20 & 26. He’d be our primary target imo.

I can see us doing this as well, but hope we are getting more out of that deal. Perhaps a future 2nd or 3rd.

Pick 20 and 26 should be the minimum to get our 13 keeping in mind that it may push out to 14/15 while 20 and 26 may get pushed out as far as 24 and 30/31.

If it's 13 for 20 and 26 only, maybe we will look to package up 26 and 37 for essendons 22 if we want to group our selections closer to guarantee the 2 we want (given we only seem likely to take 2 picks).

 

  On 19/11/2022 at 01:26, Nascent said:

I can see us doing this as well, but hope we are getting more out of that deal. Perhaps a future 2nd or 3rd.

Pick 20 and 26 should be the minimum to get our 13 keeping in mind that it may push out to 14/15 while 20 and 26 may get pushed out as far as 24 and 30/31.

If it's 13 for 20 and 26 only, maybe we will look to package up 26 and 37 for essendons 22 if we want to group our selections closer to guarantee the 2 we want (given we only seem likely to take 2 picks).

 

I thought we might be interested in Essendon’s 22 also, but it’s a lot to give up to climb 4 spots up the order. I guess if we only have room for 2 picks it might be worth it, as we wouldn’t use 37 anyway, but I’d still think we’d want a 3rd rounder next year for instance. Particularly if we’re looking at having to match bids for Brown.

  On 19/11/2022 at 01:01, ChaserJ said:

Yes, first time I've seen that published.  There had to be something we were all missing that was seeing him drop out of the speculation at the upper part of the draft.

The sort of innuendo that has surrounded certain Western Australian youngsters in the past before getting drafted much deeper in the draft than expected by the pundits. Ask Jack Darling.

  On 18/11/2022 at 05:41, durango said:

The fact that we have recruited players from other clubs to fill holes in our list means the new recruits have time to grow and get better before they are required to fill holes in the list.

Melksham and Hibberd were retained because they have more to give before retirement and allows the recruits time to show that they are deserving of a spot in the AFL team.

Unlike last year when we believed that natural growth in the younger players will improve the team, before TMac when down we were 10-0 afterwards we were 6-8 proving that our depth was not there.

Not sure I agree Durango no recruits or even Dunstan were tried so we  have no real idea. Surely Chandler Dunstan and Bedford weren't seriously considered as others held on to places with inconsistent and sub par form. Our best 23 was tired and partly  injured but no team changes eventuated. 
Amazing we now don't have Weid Toby  or Hunty but Brodie Schache and Lachie H are good returns for 2023 who all should assist with JVR for our team to rise again when the chips are down in the Flag race. 

From the Herald Sun this morning:

MELBOURNE

Picks: 13, 37

Mick Ablett says: After a disappointing exit in the 2022 finals series, expect a statement to come early in 2023. With the most potent ruck duo arguably since

Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, the Demons’ engine room will get plenty of supply. Targeting some firepower to assist Bailey Fritsch and Kysiah Pickett is paramount and the only area Melbourne has to address before another September assault.

Draft Prediction: Matt Jefferson could come into calculations for their first pick.

He averaged 2.2 goals during his NAB League season, along with kicking a standout seven goals straight against Western Australia in the under-18 national championships. At 195cm he is a strong lead-up forward. Sam Gilbey should be on the board at their second pick and would provide some class by foot off halfback.

Good story on Sam Gilbey on AFL website. Certainly was a top 15 chance at the start of the 2022 year before firstly glandular fever and then a broken leg meant we saw little action from him this year.  His left foot skill and delivery is not unlike Hayden Young or Jack Scrimshaw type.  Taller 6’2” half year.  Interesting to see if he drifts and is available around the mid 30s.  Could be a nice “Hibbo replacement” if JT was a fan.  

  On 19/11/2022 at 23:34, Matt said:

From the Herald Sun this morning:

MELBOURNE

Picks: 13, 37

Mick Ablett says: After a disappointing exit in the 2022 finals series, expect a

statement to come early in 2023. With the most potent ruck duo arguably since

Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, the Demons’ engine room will get plenty of supply. Targeting

some firepower to assist Bailey Fritsch and Kysiah Pickett is paramount and the only area

Melbourne has to address before another September assault.

Draft Prediction: Matt Jefferson could come into calculations for their first pick.

He averaged 2.2 goals during his NAB League season, along with kicking a standout seven

goals straight against Western Australia in the under-18 national championships. At 195cm he is a strong lead-up forward. Sam Gilbey should be on the board at their second pick and would provide some class by foot off halfback.

Wow. Talk about going out on a limb with that draft prediction. Jefferson - who would have thought?

  On 19/11/2022 at 23:34, Matt said:

From the Herald Sun this morning:

MELBOURNE

Picks: 13, 37

Mick Ablett says: After a disappointing exit in the 2022 finals series, expect a

statement to come early in 2023. With the most potent ruck duo arguably since

Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui, the Demons’ engine room will get plenty of supply. Targeting

some firepower to assist Bailey Fritsch and Kysiah Pickett is paramount and the only area

Melbourne has to address before another September assault.

Draft Prediction: Matt Jefferson could come into calculations for their first pick.

He averaged 2.2 goals during his NAB League season, along with kicking a standout seven

goals straight against Western Australia in the under-18 national championships. At 195cm he is a strong lead-up forward. Sam Gilbey should be on the board at their second pick and would provide some class by foot off halfback.

Rubbish assessment. Jefferson won't make any impact until September 2025, which is fine.

  On 20/11/2022 at 20:00, old55 said:

Rubbish assessment. Jefferson won't make any impact until September 2025, which is fine.

What a stupid statement. Maybe his best in 2025 but has enough smarts ( tricks) to make an impact a lot earlier especially if we have JVR Tmac and BBB plus other forwards producing each week. 

  On 20/11/2022 at 20:00, old55 said:

Rubbish assessment. Jefferson won't make any impact until September 2025, which is fine.

Poster in another thread that Jefferson has put on 6kg and is now at 84kg. If he continues to put on muscle at that rate then he may have an impact in the first team before 2025. 

Still don’t understand why Hewitt is potentially sliding out of the top 10. He’s powerful, very agile, quick, composed,  hits the scoreboard, wins inside ball, links up on the outside. In terms of physical attributes and potential impact, he’s in the top few of this draft and up there with Philipou as the mid/forward weapon (Dusty, Trac, Bont type) all clubs dream of. Philipou is going as high as 4 now and won’t make it past Hawks at pick 6 (they flew him and his family to Victoria for a meet and greet this week).

Is there off field stuff with Hewitt that hasn’t circulated? Can’t understand why else he’s sliding. 

  On 21/11/2022 at 04:45, Lord Travis said:

Still don’t understand why Hewitt is potentially sliding out of the top 10. He’s powerful, very agile, quick, composed,  hits the scoreboard, wins inside ball, links up on the outside. In terms of physical attributes and potential impact, he’s in the top few of this draft and up there with Philipou as the mid/forward weapon (Dusty, Trac, Bont type) all clubs dream of. Philipou is going as high as 4 now and won’t make it past Hawks at pick 6 (they flew him and his family to Victoria for a meet and greet this week).

Is there off field stuff with Hewitt that hasn’t circulated? Can’t understand why else he’s sliding. 

One article mentioned "some behavioural concerns" while I think I've read somewhere he was a flight risk as well but who really knows.

  On 21/11/2022 at 04:53, Nascent said:

One article mentioned "some behavioural concerns" while I think I've read somewhere he was a flight risk as well but who really knows.

Someone said he’s a one way runner

Edited November 21, 20222 yr by Matt

  On 20/11/2022 at 20:52, Colm said:

Poster in another thread that Jefferson has put on 6kg and is now at 84kg. If he continues to put on muscle at that rate then he may have an impact in the first team before 2025. 

We need to use the dietitian from Eagles and Cats have him up to 100kg in 12 months.😳😳

  On 21/11/2022 at 06:51, Matt said:

Someone said he’s a one way runner

So long as it’s towards our goal, great!

Melbourne’s two selections in next week’s draft are included in the list of nominated players in this article ~

Every nominated player for the 2022 AFL Draft revealed

New video up on AFL site with Elijah Hewett. Seems a level headed, confident and ambitious young bloke. Looks like he has all the tools to be a gun mid/forward type. If he isn't a flight risk, then he looks the best option at 13 if he's there IMO.

Class of 2022: From baseball to the AFL, explosive mid a hot draft prospect.

  On 22/11/2022 at 01:26, Lord Travis said:

New video up on AFL site with Elijah Hewett. Seems a level headed, confident and ambitious young bloke. Looks like he has all the tools to be a gun mid/forward type. If he isn't a flight risk, then he looks the best option at 13 if he's there IMO.

Class of 2022: From baseball to the AFL, explosive mid a hot draft prospect

Better interview his Mum 

Highlights of a player we have been loosely linked to.

  On 23/11/2022 at 06:59, Nascent said:

Highlights of a player we have been loosely linked to.

Is his middle name Van?

Lower his eyes and hits targets...we can fix that.

Jason Taylor is going to be interviewed by Cal Twomey on AFL Live App today at 12.30.

I'm sure we'll find out then exactly who we're interested in 🤣

Kevin “Shifter” Sheehan, the AFL’s Talent Ambassador commands a great deal of respect among the recruiting community. He has just released his list of the top 40 prospects in next week’s AFL Draft. Please note that because of his position, there could be a tendency to sugar coat but he provides a pretty good picture of each player’s major attributes.

Kevin Sheehan reveals his top 40 prospects in the 2022 NAB AFL Draft

Will Verrall

South Adelaide, ruck
Melbourne, Geelong, Collingwood and Port Adelaide are believed to be interested in him as a potential rookie option.

via Adelaide Now

They did not link us with Lemmey or Barnett fwiw