It's true, there is simply no need for Sampi in our list- we have creative smalls loaded in now, he'd be a replacement for Shannon Motlop, and thats all.

I'd be looking at Bellchambers in the PSD to make sure of him - supposed to be a top-rate tap ruckman who hasn't yet learnt to work effectively around the ground. Good for Sandy, and the general play element can be developed, while the 'art' of ruckwork can be hard to build if there isn't the original talent. (IMHO)

A couple of tall defender rookies sounds good to me.

yep.. Sampi mised the boat. he is a potential injury worry and persoannly I think a bad risk and poor choice going forward. Im all for loading up with talls in teh Rookies list.. one or two ought to come good.

Magic Maric just took Sampi's job !!

We need to really look forward to where we will be in 09-10..

Defintiely pass on Sampi now.. get Kangars and a few others for sure !!

I wouldn't be surprised if Sampi was still on the radar to be honest. Let's not forget that his talent is predigious and rare; far more than any of those blokes who missed out. If he's still training with us he now has another couple of weeks to drastically improve his fitness and prove he's worth a shot. If he can demonstrate a real work ethic and desire to play, PSD Pick 3 is a very low risk, high reward investment that I doubt the club would pass up.

We've got 4 rookie spots to pick Bellchambers et al if that's what the club wants.

Well its in his court then. Sometimes you can benefit from another clubs frustration...sometimes you can fail to heed coomon sense.

where would you put him then? pocket or flank ? and possibly at who's expense? The list is on verge of being 'crowded' ..in a good way !!

I would put him at Sandy first at foremost. Then, form permitting, I'd put him in the forward line ahead of anyone who he is in better form than. Pretty simple really.

I would have thought that Sampi would be a good replacement for Yze....

Where does everyone get the idea we have heaps of small forwards? You couldn't possibly imagine Maric will play his best footy within months of being drafted, Davey is wandering all over the ground, even if Yze does play he won't necessarily play in the forward line, Sylvia may be on the little side, but he plays like a bustling CHF, Pickett's gone, ditto Hayes and Hughes, Petterd could end up anywhere but plays like a leading flanker when forward...

Sampi is a dyed in the wool forward. I admit it could be a risk allowing him on the list, but I doubt as a 23 year old player with oodles of talent in his footballing prime, that he'll be keeping anyone out of the side that was going to make any headway ANYWAY. Also, who else were we going to take with the valuable pick 3?

Where does everyone get the idea we have heaps of small forwards? You couldn't possibly imagine Maric will play his best footy within months of being drafted, Davey is wandering all over the ground, even if Yze does play he won't necessarily play in the forward line, Sylvia may be on the little side, but he plays like a bustling CHF, Pickett's gone, ditto Hayes and Hughes, Petterd could end up anywhere but plays like a leading flanker when forward...

Sampi is a dyed in the wool forward. I admit it could be a risk allowing him on the list, but I doubt as a 23 year old player with oodles of talent in his footballing prime, that he'll be keeping anyone out of the side that was going to make any headway ANYWAY. Also, who else were we going to take with the valuable pick 3?

Who says Sampi has to play forward? He could swing between forward and as a running half back a la David Wirrpanda. Sampi has natural ability - he doesn't necessarily have to be used forward. I think he would be much more apt as a "swing-man". If he can get himself fit then I think he could be very effective in this role.

I'm all for giving Ash a second chance.

If we don't pick up another player on our list can we take an extra rookie and leave one spot on the list to promote if need be?

If so take Sampi as a mature rookie to save some cash, I think each club can get 1 player over 23. Get 4 young talls no need for midfielders we have 23 players on our list that can play as midfielders.

Get some project talls for Mark Williams to work with.

Get some project talls for Mark Williams to work with.

for sure

i really really really want to know which 17 yrs old (who now can only get drafted next year) CAC was considering with pick 72.

i have a feeling it might have been Geartner...and i think we might regret not having picked him up when he's picked up in the top20 next year.

id prefer Gourdis, McGinnity or Bellchambers in the psd than Sampi. if there isn't quality uncontracted players in the psd, u dont have to pick someone up just for the sake of up.

If pick 3 in the PSD is such a valuable draft selection, why would we pick up 17/18 year olds who were overlooked 75 times.

As long as Sampi shows some dedication on the track over the next couple of weeks, draft him. They guys got talent, he just needs to get his head right. This could be a very valuable long-term selection.

id prefer Gourdis, McGinnity or Bellchambers in the psd than Sampi. if there isn't quality uncontracted players in the psd, u dont have to pick someone up just for the sake of up.

I'd pick a senior player in the PSD and save the others for rookies as they're eligible. That way you keep your options open.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't participate in the PSD at all. There's no point in going in to a season with a vacant spot on your list for no good reason.

I'd pick a senior player in the PSD and save the others for rookies as they're eligible. That way you keep your options open.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't participate in the PSD at all. There's no point in going in to a season with a vacant spot on your list for no good reason.

Gourdis and Bellchambers are certain to be picked up in the first couple of rookie picks, as they are still highly rated despite not being drafted in the national drafts. (both were rated top20 picks by many pre-draft).

Picking one of them up in the Pre-season draft means we are able to get the jump on Carlton and Richmond in the rookie draft. Just because they slip through doesn't mean they won't become great players...just look at all the AllAustralians and premiership players who came thru the rookie draft!

i'd prefer to pick up one of the 18yrolds who slipped through, than pick up a delisted player when there aren't any good ones this year! Sampi is dump, and isn't needed now that Maric has arrived

From BF:

This is just an impression I'm getting, but a lot of teams have cleared out their rookie lists this year, correct?

Here's the count, total and by club for rookie draft -

Adelaide - 4

Brisbane - 2

Carlton - 4 (plus one PS Draft)

Collingwood - 1

Essendon - 3 (plus one PS Draft)

Fremantle - 4 (plus one PS Draft)

Geelong - 4

Hawthorn - 4

Kangaroos - 4

Melbourne - 4 (plus one PS Draft)

Port Adel. - 3

Richmond - 4 (plus one PS Draft)

St. Kilda - 2

Sydney - 4

West Coast - 5

Bulldogs - 3 (plus one PS Draft)

Total - 55 (+6 PS Draft)

Average - 3.4

So quite literally, there's a similar number of Pre-season and rookie spots being filled this year as there were national draft selections.

From BF:

With Kangars training I'd say he would be favoured to be drafted as a rookie or in the PSD. Disposal is a bit of a worry apparently and if so, it might go against the trend of the players we drafted this year whose disposal is supposed to be top notch.

With Kangars training I'd say he would be favoured to be drafted as a rookie or in the PSD. Disposal is a bit of a worry apparently and if so, it might go against the trend of the players we drafted this year whose disposal is supposed to be top notch.

Here's an article about Kangars written by Brad Green who is apparently moonlighting as a reporter for the Geelong Advertiser - TALENTED GEELONG FALCON READY TO LIVE THE AFL DREAM.

Trains with Rob Muir so he should also be one hell of a tough footballer!

Here's an article about Kangars written by Brad Green who is apparently moonlighting as a reporter for the Geelong Advertiser - TALENTED GEELONG FALCON READY TO LIVE THE AFL DREAM.

Trains with Rob Muir so he should also be one hell of a tough footballer!

I was recently speaking with Leon Harris who works for the AFL as a development coach.

His opinion is that Kangars will become a Darren Glass type of footballer.

I know I don't post here often anymore but I thought I would share my knowledge on this subject.

I am hoping we are able to Rookie this kid, he could turn into an outstanding type if Leon is correct.

Drafting a ruckman in the PSD would be a waste of time. We already have 4 on the list, Jamar and P.Johnson are in for make or break years and I don't think we recruited Meeson to play for Sandy so there will be plenty of competition for the ruck spots so I think it will be very tough for a developing ruckman to even get a game for Sandy especially for a player who is useles around the ground like Bellchambers but a KPP like Kangars and Gourdis or a midfielder like Ryley Dunn will have a chance to play for Melbourne quickly due to lack of depth in those areas. It would be a safer bet to recruit a ruckman in the rookie draft.

Sampi needed to be on fire on the training track to be recruited his dodgy knee ended that he should not be picked up and I don't think he can be picked up as an older rookie because he had already been drafted by another club. Older rookies can not be drafted if they had been recruited by a club in the past. Podsiadly had that problem a year or 2 ago back when teams wanted to recruit him as a rookie but couldn't because he was recruited by Essendon in the past.

I think Valenti is worth a punt as a rookie he has improved dramatically in past 2 years from a player who wasn't expected to play a game for Sandy to a player who is in their best couple of players his pace is a problem but if Hughes can get rookied when he never looked like a regular at Sandy then Valenti should definately be rookied.

if a club was to pick up pods..they would be getting at least 60 goals from him in a season. He would be the unluckiest guy to not play afl. He dominated/s afl listed players every week...i think he was at the pies..but he just matured later. stiff

what about jonathan simpkin and alistair neville?? they are training with us still and i reckon maybe one of them could become a PDS?

if a club was to pick up pods..they would be getting at least 60 goals from him in a season. He would be the unluckiest guy to not play afl. He dominated/s afl listed players every week...i think he was at the pies..but he just matured later. stiff

You have got to be kidding! He had a decent year a couple of seasons bakc. He barely did anything this year and saying he would kick 60 easily is putting him up there with the Pavlichs, Lloyds, Browns etc. Pull your head in mate!

what about jonathan simpkin and alistair neville?? they are training with us still and i reckon maybe one of them could become a PDS?

A bit of inside opinion reckons that Neville is leading the pack out of him, Simpkin, Summers and Valenti. Not gospel but just an opinion.