KingDingAling

He is pretty slight on, I won't be factoring Stretch into 2015 calculations.

I never intended adding the same players twice. Otherwise I'd probably of had Tyson 2nd in both groups - behind Jones in the 1st, Salem in the 2nd.

Most important players. N.Jones - dominant midfielder and our most important player. L.Dunn - general of the backline and absolute monster. J.Hogan - and I only say Hogan because I have no faith in Dawes. M.Jamar - at best gives mids first use. Big presence. D.Tyson - takes the heat of N.Jones and provides our midfield with class. Players important to our improvement as a side. C.Salem - adds class, toughness and poise around the packs. Actually, Salem adds everything, he is the perfect footballer. J.Viney - important Jack leads the way for our youth, it will be up to Viney to lead the second tier. Jack is that guy. J.Toumpas - should bring that competitive edge, Toumpas will push the next gen of players and he won't let them get ahead of him, screams X-factor. C.Petracca - I only add Petracca because I think - Salem aside - that Petracca is our best chance of developing into a once in a generation player. J.Watts - thown in Watts because I believe J.Watts will rapidly improve this year and beyond. Mentally - and physically - Watts always needed time, this kid will be a star. All in all, I think we have a flag winning list, but these kids will take another 1-2 years, we'll push finals in 2016 and could win a flag as early as 2017.

You make a good point on Garland. I think a full pre-season gives players more time to concentrate on all areas of their game. Whereas a limted pre-season they might only concentrate on a few areas - maybe even one, fitness. Players know they'll be caught out on matchday if they can't run out a game, so it makes sense they'd focus on cardio - perhaps neglecting sklls, strength and core work. It is the same with Scully at the GWS, I was reading he had a limited time on the track this year, then comes out and wins their trial. Now this means absolutely nothing about Scully's level of improvement, because he has always been a good runner. Scully needs to improve areas other than cardio - especially skill work. A limited pre-season mightn't afford him that luxury.

Toumpas played as a backman in the SANFL - and looked brilliant doing so. In addition he has the tools to make a fine half back flanker. Salem proven to be damaging in the juniors off half back - changing as a mid. Very good by foot. Actually Very good might even be selling him short - exceptional. I understand you might think Viv is a backman, but IMO he has limited tools to excel in that position. Time will tell, feel free to re-bump me if I am wrong. Apologies to all for further railroading this Brayshaw thread.

Salem would be a safer bet, he has a more rounded game, will get to more contests, be at the bottom of them, land more tackles, hit more targets, find more of the football. Toumpas is a good track worker, but I'd like to see him transfer that to actual games. Both these players are key to an improved year, if they can improve dramatically - and be the players we thought when we drafted them - then we could see finals. I've tempered my expectations a bit this year myself, but I understand if some have us making finals, I'd be pleasently surprised - but not shocked.

Dawes main problem in his last year at Collingwood was a 'stiff finger' - and he lost confidence in himself over this issue.

Viv Michie isn't a backmans A-hole. Could be a decent mid, but will never make a backman - nor should he even be tried there. I see Michie solely as a midfielder, so based on that, he should be tried forward - because all ELITE mids can push forward, he'll have to learn to be a good mid. Dane Swan is the perfect example of a limited footaller making the most of his ability, Swan is now a very dangerous forward - he could play forward alone and be an asset. Leave the half back to mids like Toumpas and Salem, blokes who are better suited down back - than up forward.

Tyson, Salem, Brayshaw, Petracca - MASSIVE in's there. That is 4 quality, high end talent. Vince and Lumumba add some class and experience to our list. Then there is ANB, JKH, Stretch, Newton and Michie, all look very capable, there could be a couple of gems in there. Topped off with some promising young KP backman, Frost, McDonald - and to a lesser extent White. We couldn't of asked for a better couple of years at the draft table. Let's just hope these players live up to their potential.

Schache can join us a year early. If he is going top 2, then lock him in now.

Salem will be the surprise packet, has it all. Most complete young player we've drafted in a long while.

We get 3 bites at the cherry. Either Frost, ANB or Oscar Mc turn out to be a player, we've nailed it. If 2 of those 3 turn out to be players, we've hit the jackpot. If all 3 turn out to be players, we can kiss the curse goodbye.

If our past performances were culture related, then we should start seeing improvement.

We'll get more members when we start winning more games. There is no place like Demonland after a win, we just don't win very often. I think the mods do a good job, although I'd like to see Demonland even less regulated.

Frawley will be servicable for the Hawks. But IMO James Frawley isn't worth a player the quality of pick 3 - or what I perceive that value to be. I think MFC will get a lot more out of Brayshaw. Just a case where the cards fallen our way - although we've had A LOT of those cases. We've been very lucky.

None of these players have gone on to improve under the development of other clubs. Players that have had success - were also successful at MFC.. Moloney won a b&f here, Stef Martin was our best ruckman when he left. Players that have left and had success were also good players for the MFC. Players that haven't - simply weren't very good. I'm not buying the excuse of development, it is too convenient. Sounds like something a non-sports person would say as he fails in a sporting arena. We hear many stories about the training some of these kids from other clubs do - before they get into the system. Some players have drive and motivation - others expect to be handed games, sadly MFC drafted a lot of players who expected to be handed games.

Given his brother is captain and three time b&f winner, I'd expect Zac to want to be involved. Nathan Jones is MFC, he has basically been a one man show the past 3 years - honourable mention to Dom Tyson in 2014. We'll sign this young Jones kid up, it is that simple.

The last thing Sydney need is MFC pushing up the price of Zak Jones. I think the salary cap issues will come home to roost at the Swans. Hopefully we can land Zak aswell, have a couple sets of brothers playing at the club. And a few sets of father/sons... A real family club.

Physically Brayshaw and Petracca look capable of playing AFL fulltime next year. Both ANB and Stretch are coming off playing senior football in the SANFL, this was a good platform for Trengove in his first year. I think all those players are more than capable. If their form warrants a game, Roos won't keep them out of the side. Salem got games this year and he was coming off a limited pre-season where he had issues. Age won't be a barrier.

I think Grimes realised that a consistent starting position would be based around results - and to get results Jack don't need distractions.I hope Jack Grimes can lift his game and remain in the 22, but he does have A LOT of ground to make up.

That's what I like about Harry, he doesn't buy into the group think. The rest of the league is scared of Hall and Brown, but Lumumba just isn't seeing it, and both Hall and Brown backed down once they seen Harry wasn't intimidated. Barry Hall and John Brown are cut from a completely different cloth to a guy like Wayne Carey, Ablett Jr. Hall and Brown are all puff and bluff when it comes to throwing down, wheras Ablett and Carey would throw down, could throw down - and didn't care who it was. I knew Barry Hall was never going to get in the boxing ring. He'd of been pressured to fight someone who hit back - and not blokes like Staker who aren't looking.

Well I think Roos nailed that draft. I think Salem alone will have a better career than Kelly - and I think Salem will be the only one in that draft to better Kelly. To get Tyson on top of that is a pure stroke of genius. We've been fairly lucky in recent years with our drafting, Viney, Stretch, dodging the bullet with Scully - in turn picking up Jesse. Hopefully we can add McDonald and ANB to this, both look exceptional pick ups. On Dom Tyson, based on performance alone I can't remember a young prospect showing as much. The good thing about the Dom Tyson trade is that now Tyson has the points on the board - and Salem has the attributes to be a MFC ATG (matter of time). So we'll win that trade even if Josh Kelly reaches Chris Judd status. I think that both Tyson/Salem will be top 5 players at our club over the next decade.

In my opinion Salem will be the big improver of that bunch. He had legitimate issues leading into last pre-season and had a limited prep. I think Salem has that all round game that players need - I don't really see any weaknesses, I see Salem as the best player we've landed in a long time. So Salem aside, I think Toumpas should improve, he'll need to, but given a full prep I can see Jimmy Toumpas playing a sweeping role off the back flank. Petracca, Brayshaw and ANB are complete unknowns, I wouldn't expect much out of these guys leading into 2015, they are players of the future.

Well written article by Ablett. But my knock on this article is that Ablett hasn't had to live like an everyday Australian. Even to make AFL, Luke didn't have to train his ass off like the rest of draftees - he got there on his name. He trained hard when he got there, but he didn't just simply land at Sydney on hard work and dedication. When Lukes career is over he gets a leg up due to being a footballer - and having the last name Ablett. I find it hard to take this guy serious, he hasn't even been in the position of a battler. This guy has had a leg up in every aspect in his whole life - and now he wants to preach how hard the life of an AFL player is. Spend a week on a jack hammer, go dig ditches 8 hours a day, throw some bricks and mortar around for a summer - then I might listen. Precious.

That is what should happen. With all these sides starting their academies and getting back to their roots, It's only fitting MFC head back to the G. I think we are well placed to boost our memberships if we play our cards right in the next decade.