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For everyone bemoaning the fact that an interstate game means that they are unable to attend, welcome to my world which is spent bemoaning the fact that we can’t easily get to attend most games for the entire season! Living in Sydney, this will be the first time in memory, that I may be able to attend a Dees game as a season opener! It’s fantastic!!

Are they really calling it ‘round zero’ to not offend Carlton and Richmond fans, who always play Round One? The AFL has jumped the shark here. It’s embarrassing. its the first round of football for premiership points - it’s Round One.

Does this make us one of the big 4 now. RIP Essendon.

You know who’s p****ed off with our round zero fixture? The NSW Demons. They’re unhappy because a Thursday night match means no pre-match function, (the one they had before our round 24 match was a success). Besides that, the little Demons supporters won’t be able to watch our players train the day before because of school, let alone the match, because again, school on Friday. This sucks for the NSW Demons who are as proud and passionate as the rest of us but don’t get to watch us live very often. 😕

That "expert" evidence was inexpert. And barely challenged. Maynard's intent was to collect Brayshaw.

Well, I really like it. It is a winnable game, it gets one away game out of our system, we get the huge publicity of being the open game, and as it is on a Thursday we will probably get an 8 day break after it. Now we just have to win it.

I reckon playing them first up, before they've had a chance to gel as a team is probably as good an option as we'll get.

All those guys except Kozzy are not best 22 locks though. Could easily fit in the Wizard and if he miraculously slides to us I reckon we’ll take him.

i hate the floating fixture with a burning passion.

As a supporter base it means we can get in and out of Sydney before the magpie infestation arrives.

You would HOPE this round 0 gimmick means we get a proper break around ANZAC eve which is a Wednesday this year. And I hope we asked the AFL for a real Bye this season, so our players can get the time off they deserve.

I like buzz and x factor Tholstrup brings. I also think he has far greater upside with enormous potential to transition into midfield role ala Petracca. Wilson is an absolute workhorse who is incredibly driven and is the ultimate professional on and off the field. He is another that will play round 1 purely because coaches will be blown away but his high work rate. He's very similar to Ollie Hollands and I think there's an element there that says there is zero depth after Hunter and Lamgdon which makes sense if we select him. I'm bias and will say Wilson, but my god I would be stoked with Tholstrup

If Nick Watson falls to us he'll be the next Brent Harvey. If Dan Curtain comes to us he'll be the next Paul Roos. If McKercher slides all the way to us he'll be a speedier James Hird. If it is Sanders, let's not overdo it and just welcome the new Lenny Hayes. Conor O'Sullivan will of course be the new Dustin Fletcher if we take him or the new Simon Prestagiacomo if we don't. Caddy won't be quite what we expected and end up just being the new Warren Tredrea. So, with all that in mind, I think pick 6 should be a winner.

It's an amazing concept whereby, unless in the case of draw(s), 4 sides will be zero & one after zero.

This would be as good an outcome as we could hope for.

8. Melbourne - Dan Curtin Claremont/Western Australia DEF, 197cm, 95kg ESPN draft rank: 6 Curtin is the slider in this phantom draft, but the highly touted defender could go as early as North Melbourne at picks 2 and 3. He's a proactive interceptor with composure and skill in abundance, able to play on a variety of forwards and nullify their influence. Curtin played great football as an inside midfielder as well where his clean hands come to the fore, but he'll settle down back early in his career. If not Curtin? The Dees will likely pounce on Duursma or Watson if either makes it to this point, while a decision between Sanders and Curtin would be lineball. James Leake and Caleb Windsor are smokies at this point. West Coast could also consider a pitch for this selection if the homegrown product slides, but it would require their coveted future first round selection to entice Melbourne. 13. Melbourne - Caleb Windsor Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro MID, 185cm, 74kg ESPN draft rank: 19 The Dees will consider Windsor at pick 8, but they would be ecstatic to see him slide to 13. The wingman boasts elite speed on the edge of packs, able to use his burst to get forward of centre and hit the scoreboard. He holds his width and is damaging with his disposal, and he is likely to be a high metres gained player at AFL level. Windsor's speed and ball use forward of centre suits Melbourne perfectly. If not Windsor? The Dees are heavily linked to W.A. hard nut Koltyn Tholstrup, and could grab Darcy Wilson if the Crows don't. It's hard to see Windsor making it past them at this point, though

He was a dominant goal kicker through development, futures and colts. Hardness, strength and intensity plus being a country boy had him well ahead of others around the same age. There’s no issue with Tholstrup not chasing or providing pressure at ground level

Pros: - Big body and agile - Hits the contest, enjoys the niggle - Clean overhead marking - not the most natural kicking action but can penetrate and seems to have poise to choose his targets inside 50 especially after marking across half forward. - versatile mid/forward and possibly wing? (6:17 2km) - Country kid with personality! Cons: - Not a huge ball winner - Might lack breakaway pace or explosive leap that can be handy for a forward - Preferred position? It’s hard work being an afl half forward. Are we spending a first round pick on Nibbler2? And is he up for it? Shades of: Daniel Lloyd, Cam Rayner, Tom Sparrow, Cam Zurhaar

Are they really going to call it Round Zero? The AFL needs to start acting their age.

Caddy and Leake taken for the Dees in the Herald Sun’s mock draft which they’ve just done. They had North picking McKercher and Curtin with the Dees overlooking Sanders at our first pick. Personally think it’s unlikely that North overlook Duursma and also unlikely that we would overlook Sanders if still there at our first pick. First round up to our picks were as follows; 1. Reid (WC) 2. Walter (GC) 3. McKercher (Nth) 4. Curtin (Nth) 5. Duursma (Haw) 6. Watson (WB) 7. Read (GC) 8. Caddy (Melb) 9. Sanders (GWS) 10. O’Sullivan (Geel) 11. Wilson (Ess) 12. Windsor (Ade) 13. Leake (Melb)

Logic would suggest that's the case as we would go in fresh for Gather Round rather than copping a 5 day break. So nothing surer then our bye being scheduled on a weekend other than that.

While I feel she's spent much of her career somewhat in the shadows of Dasiy and Paxman, with respects to external recognition, I feel this season in particular Kate Hore's star has really shone and a third AA would be a true endorsement of great player she's become.

No need to change Sam. LJ = Liam Jurrah!

A medal from me.

@Andy can we remove the Culture / Oliver disclaimers within threads? I’m getting RSI in my thumb from the extra scrolling on every page.

I don't know much about Windsor at all, but I'm increasingly becoming enamoured with us taking Curtin. He's a genuine tall at 197 (matching Petty's height IIRC) and looks to have good overhead marking prowess from the limited highlights that I've seen. He also seems to have a good attacking game and some nuance with the way he moves the ball. He could become a set-and-forget defender and May's likely replacement, which I think we need to start contingency planning for anyway. In saying that, I'm aware the majority of his highlights are against other teenaged bodies (with the exclusion of the All Stars game against the VFL Carlton side - though I'd say he held his own based on vision). I'd be open with who we use our second pick on, but I think Curtin would be a fantastic get and a nice target for us, presuming he's available.

ESPN Phantom just posted today have us taking Curtin and Windsor.

Sure he's a great kid, sounds like something you would need a strong ointment for.

That's nice of him to acknowledge our fantastic supporter base. No doubt we will also be the only one of this 'big four' that ends up playing in Geelong

So far every Dees game they've released has been one I can't attend. Always keeping the loyal members in mind is the AFL!

Ha ha,I hear you. Believe me my youngest would love to have 2 days out of school. Makes it tough for me when you run your own business that means one and a half days off. Was hoping for a Friday night or Saturday/ Sunday game. I’ve seen enough already Dillon Out!!!!!!!

March 7th. Has the season started this early before? I can’t wait for Xmas day matches.

I also think Nathan Jones should be mentioned, he was such a gigantic figure when the club was absolutely on it's knees, it's a real shame he wasn't out there in 2021

Up to Round 15 released tomorrow.

Who says he’s not skilled? Did you watch the video? We don’t need to abandon our love of big aggressive bodies if we can make sure they can run and kick. If all those players are gone before pick 11 then who do we take?

Maybe Dillon is a C programmer?

For the longest time our games were hidden away on a Sunday afternoon. Prime-time matches seemed an unattainable dream. Now we’re getting the time-slots usually reserved for the big clubs. Whether it’s a Thursday night, a Sunday arvo or anything in between, there’ll be unhappy fans. Notwithstanding my own personal preferences, I’d sooner we played on a Thursday night over a Sunday afternoon because that means we’re not the hot mess we once were. As for night games not being great for players’ routines… it’s not like overnight we’ve gone from all matches played at the same time on Saturday straight to the current scheduling. Playing interstate is something the clubs have managed well, therefore night matches shouldn’t pose a problem in terms of players’ routines.

I wonder if the club internally acknowledges that a lack of a proper bye has actually hurt the club come finals time, or whether they're not having a bar of it. In 2021 we actually had a decent bye - played Queens Birthday on round 13 and then next played the Saturday night of round 15, and went on to have a fairly solid finals campaign.

Reckon our bye will be in Round 3 as playing Thursday in Round 4. Nice stress free Easter!!

Well Andre Dillon had this to say about us:

Kozzie,Spargo ,Chandler and now Watson ?.Must draft Snow White as well.

Yep this sucks. I want to go but a Thurs night makes it so much harder for Melbourne fans. I accept the same argument applies for all four games but therein lies the rub of Thursday night games - they fail the game’s most important stakeholder, the fans.

Just do it. Take em out of school for 2 days. Theyll get more out of travelling to sydney than they will at school those days.

Until I saw that highlights package, I had been put off Watson due to his lack of height. But what I saw there was probably, imo, the most skilful player at the draft by a mile. What I especially like is that he never tries to do too much - like Reid and McKercher do - and he always looks for someone in a better position- and has the skills to get it to him. Up until today, I’ve been certain I’d take Curtin at pick 6. But now I think we’d be mad if we didn’t take Watson if he is available.

He's a jet and I expect him to be picked by another club before us. If he slid to us then he'd be a great pickup. Him and Kozzie would cause nightmares up forward and both can take stints in the midfield for extra damage.

Hey, just noticed your fav players list. Maybe it's time LJ gets the boot and substitute Big Carl or Robbie.

If Viney, May or Pickett did that to Pendelbury imagine what they would a copped.

Doesnt matter whether anyone can launch a case in favour of Maynard or not. Imagine if May or even Joel Smith crashed into Daicos knocking him unconcious in exactly the same action as Maynard. The TV and radio commentators would be going nuts and demanding it go straight to the tribunal. The media would be screaming for blood right up to Tuesday night . Bang! 4- 6 weeks. Season over. We wouldnt appeal. AFL made no serious attempt to suspend Maynard and no appeal. Afl is a rabble propped up by corporate media. Loath them.