Right now we hold pick 4. 

This is the kid I want in the red and blue. He's and inside and outside mid who has good break away pace and ability to win huge numbers of the ball. 

He's rising high in draft stocks and is a definite top 5 pick in my opinion.

This was him yesterday.

Few highlights from this year's championship carnival. 

 

I suppose his nickname is Cheese?

What is his height, weight etc

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Jontee

  On 15/07/2023 at 23:38, Jontee said:

I suppose his nickname is Cheese?

Or quarter pounder? Ah that's right no cheese on those.

Edited July 15, 20231 yr by Boots and all

Where is he from?

  On 15/07/2023 at 23:45, KLV said:

Where is he from?

Tassie

Looks good... but he might be off to Tassie when they start (the proposed AFL rule is that one Tassie player on each club's list can break their contract and go play for Tassie when they start up).

Mind you 5 years away is a long time and who knows.

  On 15/07/2023 at 23:56, The Lobster Effect said:

Looks good... but he might be off to Tassie when they start (the proposed AFL rule is that one Tassie player on each club's list can break their contract and go play for Tassie when they start up).

Mind you 5 years away is a long time and who knows.

Is this true? Surely not, a contract is a contract AFL can’t just decide it’s ok for some players to break them. Do you have a link or where did you read it?

According to Cal Twomey, clubs love McKercher and he has firmed for the second live pick behind Reid, so will likely go before our pick unless we trade up.

Thanks @dazzledavey36 

Yes he’s a beauty.  Reminds me of Zak Merrett cross Errol Gulden. Inside or outside, he knows how to win the footy and use it.  I’m firmly in the “take the risk “ on Sanders or Mckercher if we get a top 5 pick. 

  On 15/07/2023 at 23:56, The Lobster Effect said:

Looks good... but he might be off to Tassie when they start (the proposed AFL rule is that one Tassie player on each club's list can break their contract and go play for Tassie when they start up).

Mind you 5 years away is a long time and who knows.

You sure it is that simple? I don’t think you can just lose a top 5 pick. Plus players will likely know what awaits newly formed clubs in terms of performance and ladder positions.

Unfortunately I don’t think he’ll be there at pick 4. Hawthorn / Norf will likely grab him before we do. 

The way I see it its;

1. Reid

2. Walter

3. McKercher

Would love him if available but I think we will have to give strong consideration to Watson.

Him and Kozzie in the fwd 50 would be a nightmare for opposition.

Edited July 16, 20231 yr by Nascent

On that limited vision he looks very outside to me. But if JT rates him, I'm down.

  On 16/07/2023 at 00:14, Colm said:

Is this true? Surely not, a contract is a contract AFL can’t just decide it’s ok for some players to break them. Do you have a link or where did you read it?

Yeah not official, just flouted in an opinion piece on AFL.com.

"One option floated for Tasmania has been to copy the assistance package delivered to North Melbourne last season, attaching picks to its finishing position that must be traded for established – and potentially contracted – talent."

"There is also a thought that Tasmania could get priority access to land established talent already from the state as part of a 'get them home' push."

Anyway I doubt that hypothetical would put off our recruiters.

  On 16/07/2023 at 00:14, Colm said:

Is this true? Surely not, a contract is a contract AFL can’t just decide it’s ok for some players to break them. Do you have a link or where did you read it?

If he is a jet then im sure the AFL will bring in a rule that allows all Tassie players to return to the Tassie team or allow them to poach players in contract.

 

McKercher looks pretty small for a midfielder and very left sided. 

Incredible speed from stoppage in that first highlight. Looks like he came home from the carnival and realised he was a class above.

I wouldn’t be worried about the go home factor with the Tassie boys. It’s the same reality as SA and WA players. Some do go home, but we have to back our system in to keep them here and happy.

A lot of the work done with the top end talent is ensuring they have the competitive mindset. Competitive players don’t want to play in losing teams. I think it’s much harder to get talent out of an existing, winning system than it is to get it in to a new one.

  On 16/07/2023 at 02:06, A F said:

On that limited vision he looks very outside to me. But if JT rates him, I'm down.

Certainly not outside. He's a tough, in and under with decent outside skills. My only queries are his size and whether this is the sort of midfielder that Melb. needs.

I’m typically not in the camp of ‘avoid interstate players’ like some Demonlanders still aggrieved at Jesse & Jack departures, but I would’ve thought that any young guns from Tassie are abnormally-high risk of going home because of the unique scenario of the first ever team getting started down there?
 

Not comfortable spending a top 5 pick on a boy from Tassie right now.

Our plan B is looking fantastic. McKercher or Sanders are quality.

I am absolutely certain plan A will be Reid. A lot of people are letting the whole 'overhyped' stuff get to them. Reid is the number 1 pick by a distance. Dynamic, powerful goal kicking midfields are what seperate the best players in the league. Martin, Petracca, Ablett, Bontempelli, apologies but.....Daicos. 

We absolutely need pick 4 or pick 5 at worst, Fremantle vs Sydney this week is massive. 

Didn’t get to see his game over the weekend but that was a cracking goal. Even with pick 4 he might be out of reach for us. Due to the Tassie factor he might slide to our pick in which case I’d be delighted if we got him. 
I wouldn’t be keen on trading up to get him though- the more I think of it the more I think he will play for the Tassie team. If he realises his potential he will be their number one target and the AFL and Tassie media will be all over it. 

That’s why I don’t want us to trade up to get him- if we trade up we will have to pay overs and then there’s an even higher chance we lose out on the overall trade if he leaves in 5 years. 

@dazzledavey36 Given his size where would you see him playing next year if we did select him? Casey? Maybe half forward for us or do you think he could play midfield for us year one?

  On 16/07/2023 at 12:43, The Lobster Effect said:

Yeah not official, just flouted in an opinion piece on AFL.com.

"One option floated for Tasmania has been to copy the assistance package delivered to North Melbourne last season, attaching picks to its finishing position that must be traded for established – and potentially contracted – talent."

"There is also a thought that Tasmania could get priority access to land established talent already from the state as part of a 'get them home' push."

Anyway I doubt that hypothetical would put off our recruiters.

 

  On 16/07/2023 at 12:51, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

If he is a jet then im sure the AFL will bring in a rule that allows all Tassie players to return to the Tassie team or allow them to poach players in contract.

 

Yeah the more I think about I tend to agree. I think we would be properly compensated though. Well I’d hope so. It would need to be clarified before this trade and draft period. 

I'd have him, even if only for 5 years. Still better longevity value than Dogga.

  On 16/07/2023 at 00:14, Colm said:

Is this true? Surely not, a contract is a contract AFL can’t just decide it’s ok for some players to break them. Do you have a link or where did you read it?

The AFL will no doubt put it on their Gettable" segment: "We make the rules, we break them."

  On 16/07/2023 at 23:44, Colm said:

 

Yeah the more I think about I tend to agree. I think we would be properly compensated though. Well I’d hope so. It would need to be clarified before this trade and draft period. 

There definitely would be compensation. I think you go for the best prospect regardless of the Tassie go home factor. That might even scare away a few other teams from picking him.

Doing the AFL ladder predictor, I have us getting Pick 5 from Freo even if they beat the Swans this weekend (which I think they will, hope I'm wrong). If the Swans win I think there's a big chance Freo finish above them. We could still trade up expecially given Gold Coast will be looking to trade out their current Pick 6.

Currently we have picks 4, 15, 23, 34, 89. I reckon that 4 will change to 5 and 23 to 24 and of course I'm hoping 15, 34, 89 become 18, 37, 92 😀). 5, 18, 24, 37 & 92 will hopefully be a good starting point for some decent players. We wouldn't use 92 but could trade it.