mo64

True, but it also tells you that clubs prefer to take a player that they think can provide a particular role, rather than go into the draft and spend 2/3 years developing a kid taken as a late pick, and hoping he can perform the same role.

Clubs aren't expecting DFAs to take them to the next level, but to offer depth or fill a role. Although he was picked as a rookie, Miles has turned out to be a gem for Richmond. Hawks picked up Fitzpatrick, so what does that tell you?

I must be missing something when I see Mathieson's highlights. His disposal is haphazard, and that's being kind. All I see is a Liam Picken clone.

Well it looks like Cal Twomey has now covered every possible scenario, and I'm sure he'll gloat when one of them comes up.

Hogan as a 17 yo was in a totally different stratosphere to McKay and Collins. If they were at Hogan's level, they would be picks 1 and 2. Twelve months in the system won't necessarily elevate McKay and Collins to another level. They are what they are, and will be drafted accordingly. PS: Tom Swift was considered the best 16yo in the country at the time. Do you remember him?

That should no longer be a problem for Saty, as most of his favourites have been delisted.

Leading up to and including our first 2 finals, the 1994 forward line was the most exciting. Schwarz was unbelievable, along with a fit Lyon, Pike and Charles. I recall in the final against the Dogs, that late in the 3rd quarter Lyon (who'd kicked 10) and Schwarz collided. Lyon was done for the day and Schwarz was proppy. In the prelim against an outstanding WC, we were in it till half time, but got run over in the 2nd half. The 1998 team had more of a chance to win the GF because the opposition were inferior to the 1994 WC team. In the prelim against North, Lyon was basically a statue due to his back, and Schwarz was 70% of the player he was in 1994. The 1994 forward line for mine.

Based on those brief highlights, Parish looks like he knows what to do with the ball before he gets it. And that's what you look for in a gun midfielder. In comparison, Oliver looks like he wants to take the tackler on before disposing of the ball. He may not get away with that at AFL level.

Jack of all trades like Goddard are fine if you are a contending team. We need players who can lock down critical roles on the field, ie; midfield and key forward. It took Goddard a long time to establish a role at the Saints, and he's been average when the Bombers have struggled. Give me the best mid in the draft ahead of a floater any day.

A decent collection of elite and A-grade players in your team certainly helps your leadership. During the Daniher era, Neitz was the only A-grader, whilst Brisbane had Voss, Brown (elite), Aker, Black, Lappin, Lynch, Power (A-graders). We simply weren't good enough to win a flag during that era, and we did bl##dy well to reach a GF and preliminary.

I'd be staggered if Essendon took Milera with their 1st pick.

That's garbage. They achieved far more than people give them credit. And how were they to inspire Bailey's Babes when the club's management didn't see them as part of the short term future?

I think you're being presumptious. We won't know the cost of giving up next years' 1st rd pick for a while. There's more certainty when trading for players than there is with future picks. If we have a bottom 4 year in 2016, we're definitely not winners.

I must have seen different highlights package. An average kick who sits across half back accumulating stats is all I saw. At best, he'll be a K. Kolo. If you think he'll be an AFL star mid, then why is he playing HBF for Tassie?

Not a lot of logic or sense here. It's ridiculous to think that we'd pass on potentially the best mid in the draft because he's 4-5 cms shorter than Roos likes. And I'd say that Goodwin would have more input than Roos at the draft table.We may pick Curnow at 3 for no other reason than to play as a long term forward, not as someone who'll graduate as a mid.

TBO, this is the most thrown away line around this time of year. The 2 most critical roles in football are inside mids and key position forwards. And we need both. I don't want to draft players at 3 and 7 purely based on speculation that they CAN play these roles. If Collins is good enough to be an elite KPF, he would be starting there every week as a junior, not at FB or CHB. The same thing is being said about Francis as a forward and mid. A pass for me.

I see what all the fuss is about. If we're taking the best available, welcome Darcy Parish.

It is, because it depends on what you are looking for in a player. Some players have had consistency of high performance at under age level for 2 years (Brayshaw), and you can guarantee that injuries aside, they'll walk straight in at AFL level, and be a 150-200 game player. Other players may have a potential higher ceiling to impact at AFL level (McCartin), but are physically not capable of playing straight away. I'd put Parish in the Brayshaw bracket, and Curnow in the McCartin bracket.

I remember a highlights package of Blease from a carnival game, and Liam Pickering was gushing every time he was involved. Late in the last quarter the commentators mentioned that Blease has had 8 disposals. This was a common trait throughout the carnival, and I questioned his worth. The standard reply went along the lines of him recovering from some illness. It was proven that Blease had an aversion to winning his own football. That was his ailment.

Kavanagh was ordinary in the VFL finals. People should learn to ignore what pick players were drafted, and look at their deeds.

Not sure what you're basing this on? His disposal and decision making at Casey and the seniors has been good. He's not an elite kick, but very few are.

You're going back 20-25 years to find one, but Neitz was a forward as a junior. We had some talented forwards in Lyon and Schwarz, hence Neitz started at CHB.

I disagree. Can't think of too many key backmen who convert to become a good key forward. People are overrating Frost as a forward. He competes well, but has poor skills. Max King may be a long term prospect, but aside from Hogan, that's were our potential key forward stocks end.

And he won't be able to break tackles that easy at AFL level. His disposal looks average if that's his highlight reel.

I could see GC taking him at 6, but would be staggered if we took him at 7. GC clearly have a player in mind who they knew will slide past 3 to 6. Parish, Francis, Curnow and Weideman could all potentially go at 3,4,5. We may know who that player is, hence we were desperate to get pick 7, knowing one of the four mentioned would still be available.