Pre-Season Draft

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Who's being a moron? Sampi is way out of condition, CC said so on SEN last week. I will go with his assessment over yours.

I'm with you Brocky. There is no point in recruting out of condition footballers who are sooooo talented. Clearly the Club had him under close review and made the call on him. They are in a better position to judge such players than poster who too often regugitate "Big Footy" hot air.

[Jaded No More 59,453]

Surprise selection, without a doubt, but very happy we took a chance on someone new and unknown.

Sampi is definitely not in any sort of shape, physical or otherwise, to play footy.

[sylvinator 96]

Could we have rookied Martin?

In a word, NO!

I posted this somewhere else, but Essendon had come to spy on Melbourne training a number of times during this week for the sole purpose of getting a look at Stefan Martin.

He was to be picked up by them at psd pick 8.

for some a late comer to the game of afl, he is developing outstandingly well. hopefully he continues his improvement, bc if he does, itll be scary how good he could be.

[Hannabal 4]

These drafts don't overly excite me.

If it gets to the stage that I'm abusing their mediocre efforts on the G I'll be relatively happy.

[dazzledavey36 49,510]

care to explain hannabal? is there ever been a rookie draft that has excited ya?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

These drafts don't overly excite me.

If it gets to the stage that I'm abusing their mediocre efforts on the G I'll be relatively happy.

I think that about sums it up H.

I wish the Martin and rookies well and if we get one serviceable player out of the lot we are doing well.

[Paul Gardner 6]

Because he is an incrediblt talented player who would be amazing for us.

If he was willing to do that you would have to want him in a heartbeat.

Considering his only downfall was his desire.

Don't be a moron, Sampi is a wiked player. Is not fat. Take a look at the demonology pics.

Will Martin get a game.....

In the rucks I would say White, Meesen, Jamar and PJ are ahead of him.

Forwards Neitz, Robbo, Newton, Miller are ahead of him.

Could we have rookied Martin?

I do not think Martin will be thought of as a genuine ruckman, but rather a very tall swingman to hopefully be the replacement for a (Nick Holland) down the track. Zomer probably the same. Martin I think is a good learner with HEAPS of development in him, a good kid, & the right pick.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,478]

I do not think Martin will be thought of as a genuine ruckman, but rather a very tall swingman to hopefully be the replacement for a (Nick Holland) down the track. Zomer probably the same. Martin I think is a good learner with HEAPS of development in him, a good kid, & the right pick.

[paddo 0]

we should keep sampi over here in victoria, play him and sandringham, train him basically if he was one of our own players!!!

That's exactly what I was thinkin we should do. Get him down to Sandy and tell him that if he has a solid year, and he shows the club that he still has the fire in the belly that we will recruit him at the end of 2008.

[Nasher 33,178]

That's exactly what I was thinkin we should do. Get him down to Sandy and tell him that if he has a solid year, and he shows the club that he still has the fire in the belly that we will recruit him at the end of 2008.

If he had the fire in the belly in the first place he'd still be playing regular footy for West Coast, or at worst, turned up to our pre-season training in half reasonable nick. I reckon he's finished as an AFL footballer now.

[jacey 333]

If he had the fire in the belly in the first place he'd still be playing regular footy for West Coast, or at worst, turned up to our pre-season training in half reasonable nick. I reckon he's finished as an AFL footballer now.

Sampi was too fat. He might say he has fire in the belly and will work it off but saying and doing are two different things.

Not my words.

[Deelicious9 0]

on the dees site it has a little snippet on martin, says plays most his footy as a defender?

Plan to turn him into a big defender?

He's definately never played back and i think they took him in the PSD cos there was talk of another club taking him with either their PSD pick or a higher rookie selection. Just whispers i have heard.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If he had the fire in the belly in the first place he'd still be playing regular footy for West Coast, or at worst, turned up to our pre-season training in half reasonable nick. I reckon he's finished as an AFL footballer now.

Whatever fire in the belly that was there was well insulated.

I agree Nozz. I think he is finished. MFC was his last chance and he did not have the commitment.

[MeLbOuRnE 0]

Bailey said the selection of Martin was all about grooming long-term future key position players for the club.

"Stefan fitted our needs more than Ashley did," Bailey told Sportal on Tuesday.

"He is a tall (198cm) key position player with an enormous leap."

Bailey said he believes Martin could develop into a future key position player at either end of the ground.

"He can play down back or go up forward," he said.

Bailey seems to think he can play in the Back line aswell as up forward i think he was an exelent choice...i think in the Future(when developed more) with his size,mobility and "enourmous" leap along with a good set of hands he could be a very hard forward to stop......wouldn't mind seeing him down back either

[pringle 42]

If he's got any pace on him, he could be groomed as a full-back option.

[occo 2]

I find it funny how so many people on here were critisising thoes for saying that sampi should not be picked up by melbourne however everyone has joined 1 chores. i guess it screems problems when u dont want to look stupid

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,478]

I find it funny how so many people on here were critisising thoes for saying that sampi should not be picked up by melbourne however everyone has joined 1 chores. i guess it screems problems when u dont want to look stupid

I don't know about you occo, but I wanted a player who brings genuine excitement to the team. A player that has that x-factor and draws people through the gate - ala Robbo, Yze, Davey.

I can't get excited about a tall unco ruckman who can't kick, played less footy than me (and I quit when I was 13) and quite frankly is more of a risk than Sampi.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I don't know about you occo, but I wanted a player who brings genuine excitement to the team. A player that has that x-factor and draws people through the gate - ala Robbo, Yze, Davey.

I can't get excited about a tall unco ruckman who can't kick, played less footy than me (and I quit when I was 13) and quite frankly is more of a risk than Sampi.

Genuine excitement to a team from a player taken from either the PSD or the rookie is rare and becoming increasingly so especially for Victorian Clubs. I think what we did with Davey was an exception and it was fortunate it was us that benefitted.

Sampi was not taken in PSD because he did not show sufficient commitment to the requirements of AFL. Regardless of his past exploits, Sampi at 92kgs and out of condition is useless as a footballer. The Club gave him 5.5 weeks to train and impress. He didn't. Taking him would have been a waste of pick.

Spencer is a rookie and an opportunity to try and develop a ruckman for the future.

It was not a choice between Sampi as a PSD and Spencer as a rookie.

[Freak 100]

There is plenty to get excited about with Martin. He played basketball for Haileghbury and was a star there before he went on to get into national teams. His first season of football he played 8 games in the VAFA u19 and polls 7 best on grounds to claim the competition's best and fairest.

He moves very well, is very agile because of his basketball background. He also has a great leap and there are some things that football players will never be able to do without a basketball background. Basketball is very helpful.

Martin will get a few games next year, irrespective of our injury list

[jacey 333]

I don't know about you occo, but I wanted a player who brings genuine excitement to the team. A player that has that x-factor

Let's draft Derek Kickett. Plenty of X factor and what about that goal he kicked in the all star game.

People respect what you do with your talents.

You seem to respect the talent regardless how lazy and unmotivated they are.

And you want to reward these people.

[mauriesy 6,877]

I don't know about you occo, but I wanted a player who brings genuine excitement to the team.

You must be deluded if you think you'll find them in the PSD or rookie draft.

[beelzebub 22,435]

You must be deluded if you think you'll find them in the PSD or rookie draft.

the likes of Robertson and Davey must have lapsed your memory ??

[Nasher 33,178]

the likes of Robertson and Davey must have lapsed your memory ??

Robertson was ages ago. The likes of Davey and Pearce don't slip through the cracks anymore.

[chookas 0]

Very happy with Martin, great height, fantastic build, athletic and has a great leap and good hands. He is exactly what we need. I think Maric being available at 21 made it real tough for Sampi.

[Jaded No More 59,453]

the likes of Robertson and Davey must have lapsed your memory ??

Robbo wasn't picked up as a rookie. He was drafted to the senior list, but was dropped to the rookie list for lack of doing anything impressive. He was then elevated back to the senior list.

At least that's how the story I've heard goes...