KingDingAling

I will continue to back Petracca for the rising star - as I have for a while now. He would've been a very big kid if he had of started in his first year. An extra year in the gym, a year in the system, and a year with the group. Petracca is going to be the guy to beat for the rising star, and that is even if he starts round 4-5. I remember watching him as a junior and thinking to myself that he was on a different level to other players. I never expected we'd land him. I have - and will - continue to back him for the rising star. The only thing that has changed is that I am now also backing Oliver (as a saver), and maybe more than that, he is transitioning well, he is a logical threat. I backed Cripps ahead of Hogan last year, so I am not much of a punter. I didn't expect Hogan to be that dominate, and think it is positive for us - and him - that he was/is.

I agree. Pretty easy decision. Petracca, Brayshaw, Viney, Oliver and Salem, are as promising as any young midfield in the game. That is a relentless, tough and classy midfield. After this year, I expect Gawn will also be a top 3 ruckman in the league. Whereas Sandilands is on borrowed time.

It is pointless playing him in the two's when he is one of our better players in the one's (at least he was today). Pick players on form. He doesn't deserve to be dropped back to the reserves, that wouldn't be a good precedent to set, we should be rewarded our young players when they have good games - as we did with Brayshaw last year.

They were probably a bit surprised it was such a talking point - so early (the media has been on it for a while). I think its best to put it to bed early in the season, because there will be speculation around guys coming out of contract at the end of the year. That conversation should take centre stage now, and Hogan should get a relatively easy run (media wise), at least till the end of the year. MFC have time, and would be assuming Hogan is going to sign, so we treat him accordingly, and protect him from the media. I think it is the best course of action to come out and declare Jesse will be waiting till the end of the year. Then the media can turn to more immediate players coming out of contract. I don't think it is something we'd do if Jesse was entering his last year of his contract. But in this instance, we need to protect him.

I agree. There is no need for the media to do a lot of things. In this instance I don't mind it though, because if Hogan is going to sign, he will. If he isn't going to sign, then he will have to squirm for the whole of 2017, and I wouldn't pity him. But in saying that, I think he will sign. We have the best young list in the competition, and Fremantle will be struggling by 2018. No Pavlich, Sandilands, Barlow, Mundy (most likely), McPharlin, Johnson. Fremantle are in for a whole world of pain, and they will have to fight hard to keep Weller. Bennell is no certainty to be there, and as good as Fyfe is, he is injury prone. I don't see Fremantle being a top 8 side, and I see us being a top 4 side, so I doubt Hogan leaves. Footballers want success. I bet Buddy is kicking himself missing out on the last couple of flags at Hawthorn.

It is actually good for MFC that the media are heaping pressure on. I want to see players have to squirm when they say that they are putting contract talks off until the end of the year. Players should just come out and say they are leaving. The current system incentivizes them to lie, that surely cannot be a good thing. If I were a player I would be straight up with everyone and say, no, I am leaving. McCarthy did it, only thing is, he wasn't out of contract, and then pulled the 'golden ticket' (mental health card).

No they didn't, especially Plowman.

GWS had 11 picks in the first round of the 2011 draft. It was a very substandard draft (if you go look at it, not many have fired a shot, very weak draft). But, to rub salt into the wounds, GWS on-traded two of their better selections (Adams and Tyson). Unfortunately for GWS they followed up the next year by taking O'rourke and Plowman ahead of Stringer, Wines, McRae. Both drafts weren't strong at all, but to on-trade two of your better picks, and to overlook some quality kids the next year. It isn't good drafting.

I know, it is disgraceful. The AFL shouldn't incentivize drug cheating the way they do. I expect they will do away with WADA soon. First the AFL reward Essendon (as a club) with inclusion in the upcoming draft, and then they reward the players financially. If the AFL get their way (and do away with WADA), then the next time this type of thing happens, they will just cover it up - like they cover everything else up.

Because Viney would've been worth bidding on. We still would've did the Hogan trade IMO. It is only speculation to suggest there was some sort of deal with GWS not to bid on Viney.

I always thought GWS should've bidded on Jack Viney. We landed him at a bargain pick in the 20's, he was always going to be a top 3 player of that draft.

Yeah, I think he did. He was a little bit underdone. He definitely taken it easy. Pretty sure he got his jaw broken in the VFL that year also. It wasn't a consistent year for him, I know that much, he wasn't fully wound up. If I were GWS I would've taken him. Viney was a safe pick. Either way, I think GWS should cop more heat over their picks, than we cop over selecting Toumpas. Also, they seem to be exempt from criticism for targeting Scully as well (who has been an absolute failure).

I expected GWS to bid on Viney at the time. I think they should've as well. Hindsight is wonderful of course, and it would've been against the tide (for them to bid on Viney at the time), but they picked outsiders anyway (who since failed). I think everyone was surprised GWS picked O'Rourke and Plowman. Yet we cop heat over selecting Toumpas - who was rated higher than those 2. Viney was always going to be gold at 26. I think Viney held back in the Nationals that year, and that helped us.

I don't even think Ben Kennedy has had much opportunity. He looked very good during the NAB cup last year, and looked good in patches in 2014. Collingwood have just been blessed with such a dominant midfield, and even before 2015, they had Beams lock down a position in 2014 and have a great year. Beams left and Crisp, Adams and Sidebottom stood up. Kennedy just couldn't break in. He will be a good pick up for us, and I still think he'll be a top 10 player of that draft. Emma will be justified IMO. I like Kennedy, he is a go-getta.

Yep. Essendon would be in a lot more trouble if they didn't bend sides over during trade week. What is the value of Melksham atm? Carlisle? Not alot, about as much as it should've been during trade week. St Kilda paid massive overs for Carlise, us for Melksham. I'm more interested in our rookie upgrade atm though. On wards and upwards.

Nah that wasn't too bad. Better than the St Kilda one I heard last year.

First in - best dressed. Its a good problem to have. Oliver will be first to the football, I don't think we have much to worry about.

The thing I really love about Oliver is that after a couple of years in the system, he is going to run over players. Like literally run straight through them, he is a bull - as aggressive a draftee as I've seen. The fact that he goes for the ball at all costs means the opposition will have just 2 choices - get out of his road, or get stream rolled. I cannot wait to see the finished product of Clayton Oliver. The only comparison I can think of is Dangerfield.

I agree. Not only that, here is a kid who missed the Nationals, was coming off of a limited prep - yet fought back to win the Morrish Medal. I like the way Oliver goes about his business on the field, but indications are that he is self motivated off field. He obviously has a healthy confidence in his own ability, and a motivation to ensure he gets the best out of himself. He simply wasn't going to let a missed State opportunity hinder him as player - if anything it motivated him. Those are the type of players we need at MFC. Of course its also a bonus that he is a bull and a clearance machine.

A mid and a tall, fantastic.

This kid is going to be an absolute bull. Just what we need.

If Olisik is Oliver then I no longer want him.

Actually, Emma used to be pretty good before she got into the media, and that is no knock on her for moving up in the world - just means she has changed her methodology. She appears to have moved away from assessing players based on her own point of view, towards assessing players based more on the view of recruiters, which is ok, it gives us fans an inkling into who certain clubs might take. Obviously Knightmare has a more hands on approach to his work, he gets out there a lot. I don't think he would claim to be any better than anyone else, but from a fans perspective - he is relevant, and probably the best armchair scout going around.

Spot on.

I don't think they are similar. Scully only had/has one pace, has doesn't tread water and he doesn't see the bigger picture, he is a selfish football play, not the greatest kick (because he doesn't slow down, has no poise), whereas Parish is an intuitive footballer, sees the bigger picture and will often lay a tackle, bounce up and receive the hands off, if you watch Parish play, you will see he has a great understanding of the game.