2024 Phantom Drafts

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

The Herald Sun leaks are concerning. Jagga Smith looks certain to be gone. Lalor at 1, FOS at 2, Draper at 3, J.Smith at 4. Leaves us with Tauru - nothing personal with him I'm sure he'll be OK but he's NOT what we need. GAHHHHHH. How frustrating. 

[58er 6,439]

21 hours ago, 12345_54321 said:

Shouldn’t ever pick key position players for the sake of it. Harry Armstrong is the best key position prospect, but not a standout by any means. Not to mention his extreme similarities to Jefferson. 

Picking a KP player for one of the spine positions is not for the sake of it. We need more KP players than say the 4 talls in the spine. 
Tmac and Maysie are in their twilight years where as the forward line is so young. 

One way of ensuring we have replacements or depth is to recruit for it when a potentially good player is available and we have the draft picks make use of them.

I know many are despairing about our mids numbers and depth and I admit I am counting on the champs Trac  and Clarry returning to their former greatness or very near. 

Contrary to a number of fans who are doubtful of this happening I am very positive that both will be back and in their best nick. Both are very proud footballers who know the pressure will be on them in 2025. In fact it’s on all the Club after the recent season and our fall not hard to work out why BTW. 

I am not of the opinion we are miles off the top 4 or 8 if you really delve deep into the facts and happenings that eventuated.  Our youngsters are largely being ignored in any predictions by others and IMO we have had dozen ready to take mother step plus some 3/4/5 year players who also can go up another level. 

I predicated early in pre season 2021 confidently that we were looking good and I have a feeling that 14th and 11-12 and a % of around 100% is not dissimilar to 2020 ( ninth but a few similar teams in between ) is not a lot to make up that many others are predicting we can’t do. all the signs are positive IMO and topping up with 2 potential A graders next week will be great for morale around the club. 

Thanks all for the great  training reports and five players who are massive for us to improve are AMW Jeffo Petty Disco and Howes. 

Can’t wait for our older group to join and all in for a great pre season to right the ship for our fortunes to improve greatly in 2025. 

[old55 23,573]

Just now, Bang Bang Bang said:

The Herald Sun leaks are concerning. Jagga Smith looks certain to be gone. Lalor at 1, FOS at 2, Draper at 3, J.Smith at 4. Leaves us with Tauru - nothing personal with him I'm sure he'll be OK but he's NOT what we need. GAHHHHHH. How frustrating. 

Langford would still be there too.

[12345_54321 1,161]

19 minutes ago, drdrake said:

I still think we may off load 9, maybe to fremantle for 14 and 30.  Freo jumps up to get Allen and I think there is still enough quality at both 14 and 30

There’s been a few pick swap options. Port Adelaide was one for 13, & 29. The giants 15 and 21 for 9 also was there. 

[demoncat 1,437]

Welp, let’s just hope Adelaide and North come to a deal for pick 2 so that Tauru is off the board before our first selection

I’ll be sick if we take Tauru over Langford at 5

[12345_54321 1,161]

3 minutes ago, 58er said:

Picking a KP player for one of the spine positions is not for the sake of it. We need more KP players than say the 4 talls in the spine. 
Tmac and Maysie are in their twilight years where as the forward line is so young. 

One way of ensuring we have replacements or depth is to recruit for it when a potentially good player is available and we have the draft picks make use of them.

I know many are despairing about our mids numbers and depth and I admit I am counting on the champs Trac  and Clarry returning to their former greatness or very near. 

Contrary to a number of fans who are doubtful of this happening I am very positive that both will be back and in their best nick. Both are very proud footballers who know the pressure will be on them in 2025. In fact it’s on all the Club after the recent season and our fall not hard to work out why BTW. 

I am not of the opinion we are miles off the top 4 or 8 if you really delve deep into the facts and happenings that eventuated.  Our youngsters are largely being ignored in any predictions by others and IMO we have had dozen ready to take mother step plus some 3/4/5 year players who also can go up another level. 

I predicated early in pre season 2021 confidently that we were looking good and I have a feeling that 14th and 11-12 and a % of around 100% is not dissimilar to 2020 ( ninth but a few similar teams in between ) is not a lot to make up that many others are predicting we can’t do. all the signs are positive IMO and topping up with 2 potential A graders next week will be great for morale around the club. 

Thanks all for the great  training reports and five players who are massive for us to improve are AMW Jeffo Petty Disco and Howes. 

Can’t wait for our older group to join and all in for a great pre season to right the ship for our fortunes to improve greatly in 2025. 

It is picking for the sake of it if the player isn’t at the level required. Just because we NEED a key position player doesn’t mean you just bust a pick on one who you don’t rate as highly. That’s lunacy. 

[Bang Bang Bang 5,826]

6 minutes ago, old55 said:

Langford would still be there too.

Yes but if these guys from the Herald Sun are to be believed (and they usually are, let's be honest) we won't be letting Tauru slip past us. So, willingly choosing Tauru over Langford looks likely.

[layzie 33,805]

4 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Yes but if these guys from the Herald Sun are to be believed (and they usually are, let's be honest) we won't be letting Tauru slip past us. So, willingly choosing Tauru over Langford looks likely.

Surely they would be keen on Langford as well?

[FTB 265]

9 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

The Herald Sun leaks are concerning. Jagga Smith looks certain to be gone. Lalor at 1, FOS at 2, Draper at 3, J.Smith at 4. Leaves us with Tauru - nothing personal with him I'm sure he'll be OK but he's NOT what we need. GAHHHHHH. How frustrating. 

Relax.

If Tauru does slide, which is unlikely anyway, we are highly unlikely to be passing on the mid that’s still available - Langford in your particular scenario.

[drdrake 3,163]

5 minutes ago, 12345_54321 said:

There’s been a few pick swap options. Port Adelaide was one for 13, & 29. The giants 15 and 21 for 9 also was there. 

It looks like a draft you will still get good players into the 30s.

[Davos 920]

8 minutes ago, 12345_54321 said:

There’s been a few pick swap options. Port Adelaide was one for 13, & 29. The giants 15 and 21 for 9 also was there. 

Speculation or mail? I'd do the Giants swap in a heartbeat.

[PaulRB 6,363]

If Tauru is the potential unicorn (back, forward, mid) and slips to us, i say "take him", as he'll slot in down back, adding coverage for Riv and McVee to play more in the middle until he's ready... to play mid or cover the big boys retiring from the back line.

Given our game's built on defence, may be worth it...

 

[12345_54321 1,161]

1 hour ago, Davos said:

Speculation or mail? I'd do the Giants swap in a heartbeat.

Mail. They’ve been offering that deal to the Saints for a while though as well. 

We’ve had multiple interviews with Xavier Linsday and Cooper Hynes also and they haven’t consistently been in top 10 calculations, so clearly something being explored to slide back. 

[old55 23,573]

18 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Yes but if these guys from the Herald Sun are to be believed (and they usually are, let's be honest) we won't be letting Tauru slip past us. So, willingly choosing Tauru over Langford looks likely.

I'll wait and see what Cal Twomey says on Monday night.

[dazzledavey36 54,938]

I'd be ropeable if we take Taura with pick 5. 

Fancy wasting a top 5 pick on a third tall defender that can't kick while others around us take elite mids.

Only at Melbourne 

[DeeSpencer 25,709]

1 hour ago, Lord Travis said:

Sounds like FOS may slide to our pick. I haven't bothered looking at him properly due to assuming he'd be pick 1-2. He was awesome last year, but was limited by playing injured this year. Anyone got an opinion of if he'd be the best option at 5 for us should he be available?

He smashed testing at the combine, so looks a great athlete as well as being a renowned impactful ball user...

All along I’ve been team Langford but FOS is one that makes you consider the options. 

Great athlete. Lovely sidestep. Exceptional mark for his height. Booming kick.

The knocks are he just hasn’t had a chance to demonstrate his inside ball winning consistently and his ball use runs hot and cold too. 

He’s a great fit as a half forward, wing, inside-out mid but whether that’s enough to overlook Langford’s combination of size and class I’m not sure.

[2021 301]

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

I'd be ropeable if we take Taura with pick 5. 

Fancy wasting a top 5 pick on a third tall defender that can't kick while others around us take elite mids.

Only at Melbourne 

I’ve been saying all along that he looks like a JT pick. With that said I really hope we don’t draft him.

[DeeSpencer 25,709]

27 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Yes but if these guys from the Herald Sun are to be believed (and they usually are, let's be honest) we won't be letting Tauru slip past us. So, willingly choosing Tauru over Langford looks likely.

The article that starts with North working on a trade to take Tauru at 4.

I’d be shocked if North don’t take their man. 

[12345_54321 1,161]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

The article that starts with North working on a trade to take Tauru at 4.

I’d be shocked if North don’t take their man. 

Agree with this. Article says O’Sullivan has been “linked to north in the last few days so if they opt for him Tauru won’t make it past Melbourne”. think they stick to the bolter. 

Not sure anyone has ever considered O’Sullivan being available at our pick. 
Wonder if that makes us pivot from Langford or at least think about pivoting? 

[12345_54321 1,161]

23 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I'd be ropeable if we take Taura with pick 5. 

Fancy wasting a top 5 pick on a third tall defender that can't kick while others around us take elite mids.

Only at Melbourne 

I remember the outrage on the night when we picked the last bolter of the draft 👀

 

a certain red headed #13. 

[adonski 12,140]

1 minute ago, 12345_54321 said:

I remember the outrage on the night when we picked the last bolter of the draft 👀

 

a certain red headed #13. 

Couldn't give a [censored] if Taurooted is a champion, just don't want a key back. Spare me with this 'might become a midfielder' stuff, when we could just...take a mid?

[Davos 920]

6 minutes ago, 12345_54321 said:

I remember the outrage on the night when we picked the last bolter of the draft 👀

 

a certain red headed #13. 

And Jackson. And Windsor. We only miss when we DON'T take the bolter.

[Lord Travis 10,730]

4 minutes ago, adonski said:

Couldn't give a [censored] if Taurooted is a champion, just don't want a key back. Spare me with this 'might become a midfielder' stuff, when we could just...take a mid?

Where did the midfield talk come from? Blind hope? He's an intercepting defender who shows a bit as a leading forward too. He hasn't really shown anything as a midfielder, and has poor skills and decision making with ball in hand, so seems unlikely. It reminds me of the Brodie Kemp draft talk a few years back. He was a tall forward who had played tall back. He slid due to doing his ACL, but everyone was frothing he'd become a big midfielder like Fyfe. He's ultimately become an average third tall defender...

[spirit of norm smith 16,459]

1 hour ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

The Herald Sun leaks are concerning. Jagga Smith looks certain to be gone. Lalor at 1, FOS at 2, Draper at 3, J.Smith at 4. Leaves us with Tauru - nothing personal with him I'm sure he'll be OK but he's NOT what we need. GAHHHHHH. How frustrating. 

Then it’s LANGFORD!!! Surely !!!! 

[hardtack 10,537]

1 hour ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Yes but if these guys from the Herald Sun are to be believed (and they usually are, let's be honest) we won't be letting Tauru slip past us. So, willingly choosing Tauru over Langford looks likely.

I’d be happy for us to get Tauru and then go for the best mid available at pick 11 (our pick 9).