Members' Wing

Highly doubt all you want pal, I couldn't care less! They both replied to my direct questions about him on twitter. While both said it's early days, Paige said top 5, Twomey top 10.

13th, 81.1%

Add Tapscott and Blease to that! Everyone had Morton as top 5 though

Nobody is going to skyrocket anywhere, the season and all the testing for the boys is over!

That's exactly right mate. Prendergast gets a lot of stick here and rightfully so as the likes of Cook, Gysberts, Blease, Strauss and Tapscott were top 20 picks that he butchered when nobody had them going that high. But Scully, JT and Watts went exactly where everyone else had them. A couple said Nic Nat over Watts but most went for JW. Which points to development being even more of a problem than recruiting (which is saying something!) I think we've got glaring holes key forward and in midfield so it's hard to know what requires more urgency in fixing! Jake Lovett who is coming through as a Father/Son next year is meant to be a gem - possible top 5 according to both Cal Twomey and Paige Cadrona - although it seems like the AFL in their infinite wisdom will be changing the system next year so we won't get him for a steal like we did with Viney and to a lesser extent Stretch. There are also a big number of midfielders out of contract next year we can throw big coin at (Cameron is too though). I also wonder about the go-home factor with Hogan long-term so would be great to have a Vic key position forward who'd (hopefully) be unlikely to leave for a while at least in McCartin.

One game, not games. They're not highlights. Did you watch the one where as a 16 year old he kicked 5 against WA at last year's u-18 championships? Either way I find it ridiculous and naive to judge purely off a 3 minute video clip. Cal Twomey who is the foremost judge along with Emma Quayle of all things draft has McCartin at 2 in his recent rankings. Lever at 12. Paige Cardrona who is also excellent also has McCartin at 2, with Lever at 6. Not saying these experts are spot on every time but they know a hell of a lot more than us from going to a lot of games and seeing them in the flesh and talking to recruiters and clubs.

But that was exactly what I was saying in my previous post DL, you're making judgment from snippets and from a two minute video and then saying that it's a no from you. Doesn't that strike you as absolutely ridiculous? What about those in the know who watch these kids every week that say McCartin is the far better player? I understand you thinking that we need mids more than we need a key forward, that's your opinion and there's certainly merit in that. But wouldn't you think it pertinent to do a bit more research before making your judgment on these players, or failing that, trusting the experts who have done theirs - NOT ONE of whom has Lever going ahead of McCartin?

McCartin for mine. Think people are getting far too sucked in by a couple of youtube videos that aren't even "highlights", rather they are just players involvements in one particular game. That and the fact that tall midfielders are en vogue with everyone wanting their own Pendlebury, Fyfe or Bontempelli. Lever however has rarely, if ever, played in the midfield before, and just because he has designs about moving there eventually does not automatically mean he will become as good as those players, in fact it would be ridiculous to assume this. Those in the know have had McCartin going as number 1 for the past 12 months, especially since he kicked 5 goals as a bottom-age player against WA last year, until Petracca overtook him in the past couple of months. Most have Lever going between 8-12. Happy to bow to their superior knowledge and a key forward fills a real hole on our list with Dawes being far better suited to that tall forward role. With Brayshaw as the other pick that would mean we get the best of both worlds.

Hawkins will never leave Geelong. Old man played for them, grew up a Geelong-mad kid. Country boy who loves living in Geelong and the Barwon Heads golf courses. No chance of him ever leaving.

The fact we only have one player who could get in the Hawks team isn't an attitude, its just stating a fact. Your post above is head in the sand stuff. I hope we "smash the living [censored] out of them when we next meet" too but it's pure fantasy land. Even Roosy can't polish a turd.

Yes and yes. Neither of what you said change the validity of the statement. They were two of our extremely few genuine quality players. Ignore that if you like though.

And lost our best forward and best defender.

Really? We have one player who'd get in Hawthorn's team. That's the frightening reality.

God that's depressing

Brilliant. Agree word for word about people's mail and about some of the posters in here. If you've got 10,000 posts or whatever on an internet forum it's probably time to get out more.

G'day all, first time poster long time lurker. I had no idea what Maclin meant so typed it in to google and Jeremy Maclin is the name that comes up in lights, a famous NFL player apparently. Checked and Jeremy Cameron is indeed managed by Alex McDonald. So apparently we're signing Cameron, Dangerfield and Kennedy, happy days!