Phantom Drafts 2023

[Vineytime 836]

Watson any day of the week over Windsor, I’ve seen a lot of both of them play, don’t get the Windsor hype. 
Watson is elite in every way and worth trading up for IMO. 

[58er 5,928]

On 16/11/2023 at 15:24, fr_ap said:

I'm not sure on Curtin for a few reasons:

1) Speed / Agility appear a little lacking if he is indeed to turn into a bid bodied mid; in that context I'd like to see more of his contest work in the midfield to assess 

2) At the same time, as a key back he's a little undersized and doesn't have huge athleticism to match the likes of Curnow, Walter etc.

3) Appears a different kind of character to the other boys at the top end (can go one of two ways)

Looks a well skilled and balanced footballer but I just don't see the dynamism for the top level. Almost the polar opposite of Caddy in that regard who has all the dynamics but question marks over a lot of the other stuff. 

The Steven May comparisons look well off to me - people see a left footed full back and go there immediately.  

 

I honestly think Sanders or O'Sullivan are probably our best bet at 6, though I'm not overly enamoured with either of them either. 

11 can take either the slider out of the bunch and/or get into the Windsor/Leake/Wilson range. 

Watson - I would be keen but we have so many smalls on the list. I won't hate it if we take him, as he's a potential game-winner/cult favourite and could release Koz for more midfield time, but it seems a waste to have so much of the list focused on small forwards.  

*EDIT* just saw the highlights package in the Watson thread. I'd be ok with him...

It's just such a shame we won't get McKercher. Assuming Oliver gets back to being himself, Colby would totally complete our midfield and make our forward line issues look way better too.  

Such a shame. 

It’s such a shame you are so negative. Many posters post as if these 18yo future players should be the finished product.

Hoe long did it take for Trac to really establish his position in t he top 5 players? About 3/4 years. 2020 was his breakout year culminating in his Norm Smith medal as his greatest game and highlight. Other than his kicking for goal and occasionally passing he has maintained his very high standards over the next 2 years. 

Your dissection and total brutal exploration of Curtin is exactly what recruiters should not do. List all the negatives and ignore and undervalue other experts assessment of a player s skills against his own age, which is generally the really best guide ( other than Colts or maybe SANFL standard comps around Australia. And he is 197cm listed and you don’t believe he is tall enough for a KP defender! How tall do you want? The great Stephan May is only about 193cm and he goes pretty well!! 

You are also looking at Curtin being a mid primarily. My goodness Jacko was a revelation so if Curtin is as good we have a player of A grade potential on the ball and/or as a KP prospect extraordinaire. 

All under age talents ( except for maybe Clarry Nick D and the Bont ) need time to develop physically and mentally and we must be patient. 

JT and TL will do their best and I look forward to supporting our choices along with the new trades Billing’s McAdam and Fullarton in their Demon journeys to assist our existing stars to get our 14th Flag. 

Bring on 2024. 

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

Ben Waterworth has us with Windsor and Tholstrup as his picks for us.

It's only around 48 plus hours until the draft and the general consensus is that Windsor and Tholstrup are our potential picks by the looks of it.

Draft journo's usually get good draft Intel close to the draft and reading the ones from the Age and Herald Sun, they too had us with Windsor and Tholstrup. 

 

[Where Demons Dare 78]

What is the purpose of trading out Picks 14, 27 and 35 for Pick 11 only to land Tholstrup who wasn't even considered a top 15 player in the draft which we could of taken with Pick 14 anyway. If that's the case then it's very amateur by Melbourne. 

More pick swaps to come I feel. 

Edited November 17, 2023 by Where Demons Dare

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

6 minutes ago, Where Demons Dare said:

What is the purpose of trading out Picks 14, 27 and 35 for Pick 11 only to land Tholstrup who wasn't even considered a top 15 player in the draft which we could of taken with Pick 14 anyway. If that's the case then it's very amateur by Melbourne. 

More pick swaps to come I feel. 

He's been in the first round contention since last year as confirmed in the above article..

A high impact and high score involvements player, Tholstrup has been in the first-round mix seemingly since last year.

 

[Mach5 4,610]

7 hours ago, Vineytime said:

Watson any day of the week over Windsor, I’ve seen a lot of both of them play, don’t get the Windsor hype. 
Watson is elite in every way and worth trading up for IMO. 

I’d say we’re not expecting either of them to be the finished article right now, but that Windsor is equipped with relatively raw tools to be an impact player.

[Demonland 70,259]

 

[Where Demons Dare 78]

4 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He's been in the first round contention since last year as confirmed in the above article..

A high impact and high score involvements player, Tholstrup has been in the first-round mix seemingly since last year.

 

Yes, but we moved up the the draft order to try and get a better player when we could have already got Tholstrup with our original pick 14. If we keep our current pick of 11 and take Tholstrup then we’ve essentially given away two 2nd round picks for nothing.

I think the media are hyping up that Melbourne want to pick him is because JT went over and met with his family and Curtins also which he mentioned was only routine. 
JT mentioned he would take best available in his media segment yesterday. Tholstrup may be in first round contention and certainly will be a good player, but isn’t the best available at pick 11. 

[Nascent 8,634]

8 minutes ago, Where Demons Dare said:

Yes, but we moved up the the draft order to try and get a better player when we could have already got Tholstrup with our original pick 14. If we keep our current pick of 11 and take Tholstrup then we’ve essentially given away two 2nd round picks for nothing.

I think the media are hyping up that Melbourne want to pick him is because JT went over and met with his family and Curtins also which he mentioned was only routine. 
JT mentioned he would take best available in his media segment yesterday. Tholstrup may be in first round contention and certainly will be a good player, but isn’t the best available at pick 11. 

It's been mentioned in a couple articles that Sydney and St Kilda have interest in Tholstrup who have picks 12 and 13. Moving from 14 to 11 makes sense in this setting if everything is taken on face value.

Personally I think Windsor and Tholstrup will be our targets if we can't end up shifting up the board any higher, and I'm perfectly happy with that.

We may still be making a play for Duursma/Watson with upgrading pick 6 and if we upgrade 11 then perhaps Caddy/Curtin or another will be in play there.

Then there's a chance for another hail mary attempt for Reid and see if West Coast bites this time around.

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

13 minutes ago, Where Demons Dare said:

Yes, but we moved up the the draft order to try and get a better player when we could have already got Tholstrup with our original pick 14. If we keep our current pick of 11 and take Tholstrup then we’ve essentially given away two 2nd round picks for nothing.

I think the media are hyping up that Melbourne want to pick him is because JT went over and met with his family and Curtins also which he mentioned was only routine. 
JT mentioned he would take best available in his media segment yesterday. Tholstrup may be in first round contention and certainly will be a good player, but isn’t the best available at pick 11. 

How do you know that?

There are reports that Sydney and St Kilda are/were set to snap up Tholstrup with their first pick straight after ours.

So it's not just Melbourne that rate him but Sydney especially who have a good eye for talent, certainly were ready to pounce if he got to their first pick if by reports we do snap him up.

[Demonland 70,259]

[adonski 10,814]

Darcy Wilson keeps sliding 

[ElDiablo14 4,925]

39 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Why wouldn't we take Curtin if available at 7? 🙄

[adonski 10,814]

1 minute ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Why wouldn't we take Curtin if available at 7? 🙄

Why would clubs with picks 1 through 6 pass him if he's the best thing since sliced bread....!

Maybe he's been overhyped, maybe he's a massive flight risk, maybe both

[ElDiablo14 4,925]

12 minutes ago, adonski said:

Why would clubs with picks 1 through 6 pass him if he's the best thing since sliced bread....!

Maybe he's been overhyped, maybe he's a massive flight risk, maybe both

I can understand that but then we would also pass on O'Sullivan? 

I think we need to recruit the next Steven May ASAP.

[Supreme_Demon 3,247]

I still reckon West Coast might be tempted by our offer for Draft pick #1.

But I guess we will wait and see?

Otherwise, I am happy with the Demons taking "best talent available" with Draft picks #6 and #11.

I have faith in Jason Taylor and the MFC recruiting team! 🙏

I still reckon we will go Ryley Sanders and Connor O'Sullivan. That's my tip at least.

Edited November 18, 2023 by Supreme_Demon

[spirit of norm smith 15,143]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Darcy Wilson keeps sliding 

Yes on phantom drafts above Darcy Wilson would be the “13th live pick” given the amount of father son and academy picks being in the first round.  I’d prefer Wilson ahead of Tholstrup as he’s more likely as a hard running goalkicking mid with elite kicking skills. Tholstrup is a good youngster and might be move into senior footy quicker but I think Wilson offers more in the long term.  And Tholstrup comes with a potential go home factor as well. 

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

 

[Nascent 8,634]

Really unpredictable draft it seems. Our first pick has been linked to Windsor, Watson, Curtin and Sanders over the past 2-3 days alone.

[adonski 10,814]

Is there anyone in the top 10 we don't like

[adonski 10,814]

3 minutes ago, Nascent said:

Really unpredictable draft it seems. Our first pick has been linked to Windsor, Watson, Curtin and Sanders over the past 2-3 days alone.

We'll end up taking O'Sullivan and Wilson given we've been linked to them least

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

Do we know for a fact that we simply won't be using pick 42?

[DeeSpencer 24,731]

7 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Do we know for a fact that we simply won't be using pick 42?

No, but if we’ve committed to K Brown and Marty Hore we don’t have the list spots.

[Redleg 40,149]

20 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Do we know for a fact that we simply won't be using pick 42?

I don't think we know anything tbh. 

[Demon Disciple 11,636]

16 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I don't think we know anything tbh. 

Poor old Yze_Magic would be tearing their hair out not knowing who to pick in this draft 😁