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I like our new strategy of recruiting kids that are too far away to even think of going home.

Of course we looked at him. We decided that Windsor was better. Have some faith in our recruiting staff FFS.

Caleb has just joined us, lets welcome him, and not disparage him without even seeing him..

didn't match the drapes

I was holidaying in Guantanamo Bay. Eventually the torture proved too much for them. So I'm back.

Gotta feel sorry for the Eagles wasting pick 1 on that Reid guy when they could have had basically the same thing only cooler.

Looking for upsides; Not taking Curtin, and Adelaide trading up to make sure they got Curtin, suggests both clubs think Petty will be staying with Melbourne longer term. Windsor allegedly has speed, agility, defensive work ethic and 'the best delivery in the draft' in both skill and vision. If the product matches the packaging, it really will change the way we can operate. He also racks up more running bounces than our whole team does combined!

There’s a lot of projection involved with Windsor. I have a huge amount of trust in our recruitment team to get it right. If I was picking, I’d still have Windsor in the 10-15 bracket, and would pick Curtin first. Windsor had a good year and he grew as the year went on, but didn’t see the signature game or performance that really turned a game in his sides favour, which stuck in my head. Can pick out games from the Reid, Curtin, Watson and the others inside top 5 range, even Caddy had some truly standout games. That projection is really where the recruiters earn their dollars I guess, because the risks can be quite high.

Such a disappointing end to the season! Would have never guessed circa Round 9 that we'd crash and burn so spectacularly. First three quarters were basically a repeat of the last few weeks, though we were more physical and had slightly better connection and at least were able to create some movement forward. But the players left loose, lack of run, missed kicks and repeatedly being pushed under the footy in marking contests, sigh. And some ill discipline creeping in due to the frustration of it all. A different team in the last quarter, though part of that was Geelong initially taking a foot of the pedal to let us back in. Credit to the those who led the fight back though. THANK GOD FOR GOLDRICK. It does suggest that there were some mental shackles on the team, that once released, saw us show some spark. Even still, if we'd snuck over the line, barring some miraculous return to form, I couldn't see us doing much against Brisbane. The competition is narrowing in the middle section. Next season might see the bridge to the top teams crossed. It's dangerous to stagnate in this competition where staying still means going rapidly backwards. This is the first year that I feel like what we added in personnel or game plan was consolidation rather than progress. Recent performances notwithstanding, though, we do have a good core of players who can learn and execute a (hopefully revitalised!) game plan. Anyway, thanks to everyone for the discussion here this season. Time to turn back to the men's. Thus is the cycle of the never-ending football season.

If the draft was another week away, we might have been able to rookie him. 😉

@WERRIDEE get cracking…where you slotting this kid?

LOL. Our pick didn't even want to leave his mum's side for the draft. 😂

It's high time the Royal family contributed .

Like some others I can't get too excited by Windsor at pick 7. I'd take Curtin ahead of him every day of the week. That said, Taylor has an excellent record, so I'll back his judgement. Windsor may well play 200 games and be a very valuable player, but I don't see his type of player as a top 10 selection. Nick Daicos is a poor comparison, because he's not purely playing a wing role. In fact, he never has. He's no midfield beast, but he does have good history in a midfield role and the associated metrics that follow. Josh Daicos is a better comparison, because he does play that role.. And despite him being an AA and a B&F winner in a premiership year I still wouldn't take him with a top 7 pick in a National Draft. I know generational talents are rare in the top 7, but I still want to back myself to land one. Curtin could be one, whereas I'll be shocked if Windsor is. C'est la vie.

I’m baffled that in extended highlights from 5 different games there doesn’t seem to be a single clip of Windsor on ball. He’s clearly Eastern’s second best draft prospect and was in first round calculations from mid year. Just seems baffling to have him on a wing the whole time rather than give him the chance to prove his value as a clearance player. Might be a blessing in disguise and his value would’ve only gone up. But it’s confusing coaching.

at least it doesn't seem like we need to tune into Night 2.

2 nights of this, only in the AFL.

without the watermark

He was a genuine power forward at colts level as an under-age playe last year kicking over 30 goals in a season. My understanding was that he was dominating that level and there was expectation of organic growth in his game. Decided to he wanted to do a pre season with the seniors and got rewarded with senior footy all year playing as a high half forward and sometimes even defensive forward. Battled some groin injuries which impacted him mid year.

We need speed in the midfield and we got it We needed another mid/fwd and we got it Hard not to like it, fingers crossed they come on

We wanted more midfield depth - we've got two young tall mids, one outside with speed and polish and the other inside with ability forward. Tick tick. Don't get seduced by the fox rankings or scout profiles - it's all nonsense Fox do to try and make this like the NFL (where form is far more exposed and the metrics far more scientific). The order of Windsor at 7 was because both GWS and Essendon were keen. Tholstrup we clearly believed would last to 13 whereas Caleb wouldn't have

No electricity at his house. That’s how tough he is.

Entrance for first game...

All I want to know is, do the glasses fall within the MCC dress code. Asking for a friend. What a beast!

Wow. How many Koltyns do we now have at the club?!!

I think this is more system-related than personnel-related.

I suspect Clarko’s pitch is for an Eagles pick swap

I think it’s important to note that there’s a difference between ‘didn’t’ win much contested footy and ‘can’t’ win contested footy. Windsor played wing all year and appears to have done so with a lot of discipline. That role will inevitably result in a low contest rate if it’s played properly. When it’s his turn to go he does win contests and I think that the 30% contest rate needs to be considered in this context. If he played as a true mid the numbers might mean something but for a wingman it doesn’t make much sense. The impressive thing about Windsor isn’t just his speed but his ability to use that speed properly. He makes quick decisions to carry the ball and get it forward before teams can set their defence, which is super valuable against disciplined AFL teams. He also uses his speed to defend and is very disciplined. He already plays the game at AFL tempo. He’s a very impressive footballer.

Thor would be an apt nickname

Our WA talent scouts have a great record. I think we may have another WA gun on our hands. He will add a bit of flare to the list. Power and talent.

Once again, WE DONT HAVE THE LIST SPOTS! this pick was spoken for when we traded for Billings. Funnily enough we gave them a future 3rd and got a F3 back for 42

Excellent. We can turn this [censored] off now and forget it for another year.

She's been our most consistent player this year and can hold her head high this finals series. Won a three in a row with Dublin and it shows. No resting on her laurels, lack of hunger or complacency from Goldy.

Demonland hates players who don't PLOD!

Curtin sliding to 10 would be bonkers. He's already better performed and has more potential than a few others shown their above him there. Strange times!

No doubt @Ethan Tremblay will be dropping his much anticipated phantom draft in just under 12 hours 😆

I imagine if we draft Watson, he'll play more as a dedicated small forward, Kosi would get more midfield time, and McAdam would be more a small marking forward in the mould of Jamie Elliot. McAdam seems a stronger marking option than Kozzie and Watson, so not sure he's in the same boat. Might be seen as an upgrade on Spargo, rather than playing the same role as the other two.

We are still in the premiership window. If we trade into next year's draft or pick a tall who needs a few years to hit their straps, we'll be losing a year or two of development. Against that background, I can't see us trading with WCE, either to slide back or out of the 1st round entirely. Can absolutely see us throwing everything at a player who we consider might give us an edge next year. And that would be the right call. Don't listen to the nuffies saying we're giving up too much. List spots are tight everywhere but particularly for us. We're not even going to use 42, and if we had more second rounders, we also wouldn't use them. Picks later in the draft are worth a lot less, particularly given how COVID has affected ddevelopment of this group making it even more of a [censored] shoot than usual. Adelaide, Essendon, Bulldogs, West Coast are all looking to get forward into the top 12 or so, at the cost of F1s, and Syd have said they think there is a group of 12 clear of the rest. That's a strong indication that JT and his team have been right on the money.

The 2023 AFL national draft will be held across two days: Monday November 20 and Tuesday November 21, with coverage of both nights beginning at 7pm (AEDT), The first round of the draft will be held on Monday November 20, with up to 29 picks set to take place. The rest of the draft will then take place on Tuesday November 21, with clubs expecting between 55 and 60 picks to be used this year. The only place to watch all the draft picks as they’re announced on TV is on Fox Footy, via Channel 504 on Foxtel or Kayo Sports. You can also follow the AFL draft live on foxfooty.com.au with analysis of every pick and every club, along with Fox Footy’s social media channels. The 2023 AFL pre-season draft and 2023 AFL rookie draft will be held online on Wednesday November 22 from 3pm (AEDT). HOW DOES THE AFL DRAFT WORK? The AFL has created the Draft Value Index, which is a system that allocates a points value to the first 73 picks in the draft. It essentially means clubs that have existing links to draftees, either via their academy or father-son eligibility, must ‘pay’ to secure these players via multiple picks and give rival clubs the chance to bid on these players. For clubs to secure their linked talent, they must pay and match a bid by using the draft picks/points they already hold. If they don’t have enough points at the time, they can enter draft deficit, which means their hand at the following year’s draft will take a hit. If the club opts not to match, the player goes to the club who made the bid. The best way to explain how bidding works is through an example. Tap here to find out how Brisbane matched North Melbourne’s bid last year for Lions father-son gun Will Ashcroft. WHAT IS THE AFL DRAFT 2023 ORDER? See below, featuring the pick, club and then the draft points attached to the selection. Note: With live-trading, the draft order is subject to change. Round 1 1. West Coast Eagles 2. North Melbourne 3. North Melbourne (Ben McKay compensation) 4. Hawthorn 5. Western Bulldogs (via Gold Coast Suns) 6. Melbourne (via Fremantle) 7. GWS Giants (via Richmond) 8. Geelong 9. Essendon 10. Adelaide Crows 11. Melbourne (via Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs) 12. Sydney Swans 13. St Kilda 14. Adelaide Crows (via Gold Coast and Melbourne) 15. North Melbourne (via Port Adelaide) 16. GWS Giants 17. North Melbourne (via Carlton) 18. North Melbourne (via Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs) 19. Collingwood 20. Adelaide Crows (Tom Doedee compensation) 21. St Kilda (Jade Gresham compensation) 22. Carlton (via North Melbourne, from AFL assistance package) Round 2 23. West Coast Eagles 24. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide and North Melbourne) 25. Geelong (via Port Adelaide, Fremantle and North Melbourne, from AFL assistance package) 26. Gold Coast Suns (via Carlton, North Melbourne, Sydney and Hawthorn) 27. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide, originally a Gold Coast pick) 28. Carlton (via Gold Coast, Melbourne and Fremantle) 29. Richmond 30. Brisbane Lions (via Geelong) 31. Essendon 32. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide) 33. Collingwood (via Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs) 34. Fremantle (via Collingwood and Sydney) 35. Essendon (via St Kilda) 36. Gold Coast Suns (via Melbourne) 37. West Coast Eagles (via Port Adelaide) 38. Gold Coast Suns (via GWS) 39. Brisbane Lions (via Hawthorn, Collingwood and Carlton) 40. St Kilda (via Western Bulldogs and Brisbane) 41. Richmond (via Port Adelaide and Collingwood) 42. Melbourne (James Jordon compensation) 43. GWS Giants (Matt Flynn compensation) Round 3 44. Hawthorn (via West Coast) 45. Sydney Swans (via North Melbourne) 46. Fremantle (via North Melbourne, from AFL assistance package) 47. Hawthorn (via Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, originally a Hawthorn pick) 48. Western Bulldogs (via Gold Coast) 49. Hawthorn (via Richmond, Port Adelaide and Fremantle) 50. Western Bulldogs (via Port Adelaide and Richmond) 51. Brisbane Lions (via Geelong) 52. Western Bulldogs (via Essendon) 53. Western Bulldogs (via Gold Coast and Adelaide) 54. Brisbane Lions (via Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs) 55. Sydney Swans 56. Western Bulldogs (via St Kilda) 57. North Melbourne (via Melbourne) 58. West Coast Eagles (via Port Adelaide) 59. GWS Giants 60. Fremantle (via Carlton) 61. Essendon (via Hawthorn and Brisbane Lions) 62. Hawthorn (via Gold Coast and Collingwood) Round 4 63. Hawthorn (via West Coast Eagles) 64. Fremantle (via North Melbourne) 65. Richmond (via North Melbourne and Hawthorn) 66. Gold Coast Suns 67. Brisbane Lions (via Fremantle) 68. Richmond 69. Western Bulldogs (via Geelong) 70. Carlton (via Essendon) 71. Gold Coast Suns (via Adelaide) 72. Western Bulldogs 73. Port Adelaide (via Essendon and Sydney) 74. Gold Coast Suns (via St Kilda) 75. Western Bulldogs (via Melbourne) 76. Geelong (via Port Adelaide) 77. GWS Giants 78. Carlton 79. GWS Giants (via Brisbane) 80. Collingwood Round 5 81. West Coast Eagles 82. North Melbourne 83. Hawthorn 84. Gold Coast Suns 85. Fremantle 86. Richmond 87. Geelong 88. Essendon 89. Adelaide Crows 90. Western Bulldogs 91. Sydney Swans 92. St Kilda 93. Melbourne 94. Geelong (via Port Adelaide) 95. GWS Giants 96. Carlton 97. Brisbane Lions 98. Collingwood

Giving up way too much just to move 3 spots? I can guarantee one of those guys will still be available at our pick as a slider By the looks of it, the club is set on Tholstrup.

If you look at Cal Twomey's phantom draft, Tholstrop is apparently in the mix at Essendon's pick 9, Adelaide's pick 10, our pick 11, and St Kilda's pick 13. I doubt he would have been available at 15 if we hadn't moved up, so I think the assertion that we've traded up for a guy who would have been there at our pick isn't right. Even if we have, however, that might still be worth it to guarantee who we wanted, rather than rolling the dice on whoever was left. It looks like we will be in the right part of the draft at 11 for one of Leake, O'Sullivan, Tholstrop, or Caddy depening on what other clubs do. Could see it getting shuffled if Adelaide moves up or WCE jumps back in to draft Curtain at eight.

It's worth looking at Davo (a long time junior watcher/expert) from Bigfooty November 2022 early predictions as to who the best draft prospects were for 2023. Tholstrup was considered a top 10 prospect by many watchers 12 months ago. 1. Harley Reid - Bendigo - 185cm 82kg - really shun at the champs, has been excellent all year in a variety of positions 2. Daniel Curtin - Claremont - 195cm 91kg - best afield in the u17s pre GF game, terrific game after being injured for a large chunk of the yr 3. Jed Walter - GC A - 195cm 91kg - wonderful season showing off surprising athleticism and kicking 9 goals in 4 games for the Allies at the champs 4. Koltyn Tholstrup - Subiaco - 186cm 80kg - one of the best for WA in the champs, forward who can rotate in midfield 5. Zane Duursma - Gippsland - 188cm 73kg - a real danger in front of goals, can also rotate through midfield, he was a real weapon for Vic country that they missed in the finale 6. Archer Reid - Gippsland - 201cm 85kg - athletic and flexible KPF, had a huge trials game, was ok at the champs, but has heaps of potential 7. Nick Watson - Eastern - 169cm 66kg - tough, electric small forward, loves a goal and can kick them from anywhere 8. Jack Delean - Sth Adel - 181cm 73kg - was great last season and had a good champs this yr, but didnt dominate the sanfl u18 9. Nate Caddy - Northern - 190cm 83kg - high flying medium forward, took a tonne of huge pack marks this yr, excited to see him fly high again next yr 10. Ashton Moir - Glenlg - 186cm 78kg - had a good sanfl u18 season, had 1 good and 1 poor champs games

Yikes. I'm feeling a bit flat about it but geezus some people crave misery.

I think we'd be fools to select half forwards when elite mids and key position players are at the top of this draft. Shocked to see Curtain slide so much, just don't see it happening in real time.

2024 DRAFT PICKS TRADED (after 2023 trade period) Adelaide Crows IN: Round 2 (Melbourne) OUT: Nil Brisbane Lions IN: Round 4 (Hawthorn) OUT: Round 2 (Gold Coast) Carlton IN: Round 4 (Fremantle), Round 4 (Gold Coast Suns), Round 4 (Western Bulldogs) OUT: Round 3 (St Kilda), Round 4 (Port Adelaide) Collingwood IN: Round 2 (Hawthorn), Round 3 (Hawthorn) OUT: Round 1 (Fremantle), Round 2 (Hawthorn), Round 4 (Essendon) Essendon IN: Round 4 (Collingwood) OUT: Round 3 (Gold Coast), Round 4 (Port Adelaide) Fremantle IN: Round 1 (Collingwood), Round 1 (Port Adelaide), Round 2 (St Kilda), Round 4 (St Kilda) OUT: Round 2 (Richmond), Round 4 (Carlton) Geelong IN: Nil OUT: Nil Gold Coast Suns IN: Round 1 (Western Bulldogs), End of Round 1 (second North Melbourne assistance), Round 2 (Brisbane), Round 3 (Essendon) OUT: Round 3 (Western Bulldogs), Round 4 (Carlton) GWS Giants IN: Nil OUT: Nil Hawthorn IN: Round 2 (Collingwood) OUT: Round 2 (Collingwood), Round 3 (Collingwood), Round 4 (Brisbane) Melbourne IN: Round 2 (Sydney), Round 3 (Western Bulldogs) OUT: Round 2 (Adelaide), Round 3 (St Kilda) North Melbourne IN: Nil OUT: End of Round 1 (first, Sydney), End of Round 1 (second, Gold Coast) Port Adelaide IN: Round 4 (Essendon), Round 4 (Carlton) OUT: Round 1 (Fremantle), Round 4 (Richmond) Richmond IN: Round 2 (Fremantle), Round 4 (Port Adelaide) OUT: Nil St Kilda IN: Round 3 (Carlton), Round 3 (Melbourne) OUT: Round 2 (Fremantle), Round 4 (Fremantle) Sydney Swans IN: End of Round 1 (first North Melbourne assistance) OUT: Round 2 (Melbourne) West Coast Eagles IN: Nil OUT: Nil Western Bulldogs IN: Round 3 (Gold Coast) OUT: Round 1 (Gold Coast), Round 3 (Melbourne), Round 4 (Carlton)

Australia - 6 World Cups!!!!

We lost the same amount of finals in 2023 that we played in the period of 2003 to 2017 inclusive. Yes I'm disappointed we didn't win and I think we should have done better. But I'd rather have a team I can enjoy watching, who competes pretty well, that what we've had in the past.