CHANGES 2007: TRADING AND DRAFTING - PART ONE

[Demonland 73,140]

by The Oracle

When the final siren sounds on grand final day, many footy supporters turn their attention in other directions and their thoughts return only fleetingly over the summer before the hurly burly starts again around the month of March.

For others though, the post finals period is full of interest and anticipation – it's the time when changes start happening to their club's playing lists and for those whose teams missed out on the glory of the season past, it's a time to reflect on what's needed to bring their lists up to scratch and how to go about achieving an improved playing list.

The starting point is always your existing group and in the case of the Melbourne Football Club, we've already witnessed some changes. Here's the list that represented the Demons in 2007 (with 40 of the 44 taking their places on the AFL stage if you count rookie Daniel Hughes' Nab Cup appearance): -

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST SEASON 2007:

SENIOR LIST:

Clint Bartram, Matthew Bate, Daniel Bell, Clint Bizzell, Nathan Brown, Cameron Bruce, Simon Buckley, Nathan Carroll, Aaron Davey, Lynden Dunn, Ryan Ferguson, James Frawley, Colin Garland, Simon Godfrey, Brad Green, Ben Holland, Mark Jamar, Chris Johnson, Paul Johnson, Travis Johnstone, Nathan Jones, James McDonald, Brock McLean, Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Heath Neville, Michael Newton, Ricky Petterd, Byron Pickett, Jared Rivers, Russell Robertson, Colin Sylvia, Daniel Ward, Matthew Warnock, Isaac Weetra, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, Jeff White.

VETERAN LIST:

David Neitz, Adem Yze.

ROOKIE LIST:

Jace Bode*, Daniel Hayes, Daniel Hughes, Shane Neaves.

* uplifted rookie

The retirements of Bizzell, Brown and Pickett and the delisting of Godfrey, Neville, Ward and rookies Hayes and Neaves have already reduced the list to 36 and more changes are on the way under the AFL Draft process that started earlier this week with the NAB AFL Draft Camp which concluded yesterday. The process continues next week with the exchange period and culminates with two drafts over the coming months. The first of these sees the National Draft take place on Saturday 24 November followed by the Pre Season and Rookie Drafts on 11 December by which dates the lists will have been done and dusted in readiness for the 2008 season.

THE DRAFT PROCESS

The full list of key dates that form the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Process are: -

Tuesday 2 October to Friday 5 October - NAB AFL Draft Camp

Saturday 6 October Victorian State Screening Session

Monday 8 October to Friday 12 October 2.00 pm Exchange Period

Saturday 13 October South Australian State Screening Session

Sunday 14 October Western Australian State Screening Session

Wednesday 31 October 2.00 pm List Lodgement One, including rookie promotions, retained second year rookies and father / son selections

Wednesday 14 November 2.00 pm Draft Nominations Close

Friday 16 November 2.00 pm List Lodgement Two

Wednesday 21 November 2.00 pm Delisted Player Nominations Close

Saturday 24 November 10.00 am NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting

Tuesday 27 November 27 2.00 pm Uncontracted Listed Player Nominations Close

Friday 30 November 2.00 pm List Lodgement Three and TPP Estimates

Friday 7 December 7 2.00 pm Delisted Player Nominations Close

Tuesday 11 December 10.00 am NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting

Tuesday 11 December 10.15 am Nomination of Brisbane Lions and Sydney eligible rookie list players

Tuesday 11 December 10.30am NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting

NAB AFL DRAFT CAMP

The cream of the nation's young footballers was on show at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. Seventy-two youngsters were measured up and assessed by the AFL club recruiting people and they went through a series of tests and interviews. Club recruiting officers will review all aspects of the player’s make up including his history, academic record and personal aspirations. The players who impress during the Camp will often be prominent when the first names are called out at the AFL National Draft on 24 November. Provision has also been made to test more than a hundred others at half-day screening camps held in the capital cities.

The following players attended the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp -

Victoria (42):

Ashley Arrowsmith, Darcy Daniher, Mitchell Farmer, Jeremy Laidler, Adam Maric, James Polkinghorne (Calder Cannons), Scott Selwood, Robbie Tarrant (Bendigo Pioneers), Steven Gaertner, Jarrod Grant, John McCarthy, Scott Simpson (Dandenong Stingrays), Michael Dell'Aquila, Matthew Lobbe (Eastern Rangers), Ed Curnow, Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson, Chris Kangars, Guy O’Keefe (Geelong Falcons), Brent Connelly, Jackson Hall, Haelan Kay, Dan McKenna (Gippsland Power), Ashley Hockey, Ben McEvoy, Ryan Normington, Dawson Simpson (Murray Bushrangers), Matt Austin, Clayton Hinkley (North Ballarat Rebels), Trent Cotchin, Jack Grimes, Matthew Kreuzer, Brett Meredith, Patrick Veszpremi, David Zaharakis Northern Knights), Harry Croft, Lachie Hill, Andrew Ottens, Hugh Sandilands (Oakleigh Chargers), Myke Cook (Sandringham Dragons), Will Sullivan, Callan Ward (Western Jets).

Western Australia (17)

Matthew DeBoer, Patrick McGinnity, Cale Morton, Simon Starling (Claremont), Chris Masten, Rhys Palmer (East Fremantle), Tayte Pears, Luke Sampey (East Perth), Cruize Garlett, Chris Mayne, David Myers (Perth), David Gourdis, Jarrhan Jacky (Subiaco), Peter Bonney, Tony Notte, Alex Rance (Swan Districts), Steven Browne (West Perth).

Queensland (7)

Joel Smouha (Mt. Gravatt), James Mulligan (Southport), John Williams (University of Qld), Joey Daye, David Hill, Sam Reid, Brendan Whitecross (Zillmere).

South Australia (5)

Brad Ebert, Levi Greenwood (Port Adelaide), Tom McNamara, Nick Murphy (South Adelaide), Jared Petrenko (WWT Eagles).

Tasmania (4)

Jay Bowden, Aaron Joseph (Glenorchy), Tom Collier (Lauderdale), Tom Bellchambers (Northern Bombers).

Northern Territory (2)

Cyril Rioli (St. Marys), Marlon Motlop (Wanderers).

New South Wales (1)

Tony Armstrong (Calder Cannons)

The results of the draft camp tests are filtering through and these are posted here. You can be sure however, that the cream will rise to the top with this sort of testing - Kreuzer still the one by a mile

"It took just three days at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this week for Matthew Kreuzer to reinforce what every AFL club recruiter already knew - he is the best young talent in Australia."

EXCHANGE PERIOD

The fun and games really start next week with the exchange period. Judging on the last few seasons there might not be too many shock waves although much will depend on what happens with the Chris Judd situation which, like most other things to do with the trades, is still up in the air.

Coming: The Trading Chronicles