mo64

Correct me if I'm wrong, didn't Blake and Hudson start in the ruck for their respective sides? Minson is used up forward because of the Dogs lack of big forwards, and I wouldn't rate him as either a ruckman or a forward. Ottens never starts a game in the forward line, but does push forward when in the ruck. I doubt that he spent much time up forward when Blake was on the ground. Without loooking up the stats, I doubt that there is a ruckman that's kicked over 25 goals this year. Don't include Hale because he's kicked his goals when played purely as a forward.

These days, ruckmen don't rest in the forward line. So you are either a ruckman or a forward. In the case of David Hale, they've decided that he's a forward, with Petrie playing as the ruckman. Vickery sounds like Brad Ottens, and it's taken him 9 seasons to finally establish himself.

Ultimately, it was the football dept.'s decision on the leadership group. They determined the process, and they ratified the playing groups' choice. Hopefully this is your final post of Adem Yze bashing. :angry:

Is he a well-built CHB, who played a few games in his 1st season? If that's him, I thought he looked pretty promising as well.

I pose the question, how many ruckmen drafted in the top 10, have become A-grade footballers? You can make an early assessment of Naitanui as he is currently playing senior football in the WAFL. Although I haven't seen him play, history says that Vickery would be 3-5 years away from being a dominant AFL player, if he ever reaches that stage. We have the no. 1 pick. Use it wisely...............

Thanks for clearing that up. Can't see it happening. Too much of a win for Melbourne. Fremantle get stuff all, and Carlton give up pick 6 in a bumper draft in exchange for Green, which includes further burden on their salary cap. Freo are better off accepting Carlton's 2nd pick in exchange for Warnock, and getting either Rich or Naita with pick 3.

Full credit to you for not naming a player that you haven't seen. Unlike cricket, where statistics are a fair reflection of talent, I can't see how someone can rate a player sight unseen. Robert Flower is the best player I've seen play for us by a long way. It tends to make a mockery of the Best & Fairest voting IMO, when Robbie only won 1. I think that this hindered his chances of making the Team of the Century. He was a far better wingman than Greig and Bourke.

Correct. Our draft doesn't work like the NBA. You can't on-trade players once they're drafted.

If Tenace is as good as you say, and trust me he's not, why have the likes of Stokes, Prismall, Varcoe and Gamble all leapfrogged over him, even though he's been in the system for 2-3 more years?

So where do Osborne, Williams, Rioli and more recently, Campbell Brown all play? Hawthorn have adequate numbers in their forward line. We dont!!!

This question is redundant, because under Bailey, we don't actually line up with a genuine half forward.

Agree on both fronts, but would only take Ray in the PSD.

Is Tom Harley the zone selection?

His teamates and the football dept. thought he was still capable, otherwise they wouldn't have included him in the leadership group. A quality player for more than a decade.

WTF. I know we've got a new alliance with the Casey Scorpians, but did we have to adopt their jumper? It's awful :angry:

Just as I thought. It was pure footy forum speculation that he was looking for opportunities elsewhere. And after he did his knee, it was even more certain that he'd stay at the Cats. Imagine how hard it would be to walk into a new club knowing that you can't train properly for 6 months, or play for a season. It's far easier for him to do his rehab in his own environment.

TBH, I was struggling to think of a 2nd ruckman who's had a consistant year. I haven't seen the initial squad of 40, but they generally select 2 ruckmen.

Not bad. Backline and forward lines look spot on. S. Johnson, Medhurst and Motlop all play a similar role so I doubt that all 3 will get in. A 2nd ruckman possibly Hille, in for Medhurst. Joel Selwood in for Deledio.

I'll pass on both. O'hailpin - Great FF? Never Tenace - uses the ball well and could be that classy midfielder that Melbourne is looking for? Never

I thought that Players Not Quoted was our best player over the year, and will take the $4.50 on offer.

There's nothing wrong with having an opinion that turns out to be wrong. But in the case of Rhino, you can't honestly say that list that is capable of winning a flag 1 year, is unskilled and an absolute train wreck 12 months later, when Bailey inherited it. I've been saying all along that our list isn't as bad as our results and performances this year.

I like the concept of drafting players who are well performed at state level, with low draft picks. Jason Porplyzia and Aaron Edwards are 2 players that come to mind. Both were delisted from AFL clubs, then redrafted at the age of around 22. Recruiters tend to use low draft picks for under 18 players, with so called "upside". Most of them turn out to be lemons.

Name one?

It's amazing how ex-players who are actively involved in the game, and see Naitanui on a regular basis, have a different opinion of him, compared to some armchair experts on this forum. If we draft on a needs basis, it would seem that we can't go wrong with Watts, Naitanui or Rich, because we're lacking in key forwards, ruckmen and quality midfielders.

You make a fair point Hannabal, and I'd be interested to know how many times Swampfox and Rhino have seen Naitanui play when they make statements like: "Naitanui has a great leap and amazing speed and not much else at this stage". Swampfox "Natanui will be three years away from commanding the No 1 ruck role (if he ever does) at senior level. By that time we will have Spencer coming through." Rhino Prior to last year's draft, Carlton recruiting manager Wayne Hughes made the statement that Naitanui is a "one in a generation footballer, who'll bring people through the gates". So he obviously rated him a better prospect than Kreuzer. Hannabal, in your opinion, do you think that Naita will play regular senior football next year?