Gator

How about we let him string half a dozen games in a row ?

This is news to me.

This is news to me.

When I was picking my best 22 just prior to the season starting I had Brayshaw on my bench and Vince out. If I had to put Vince in it would have been Brayshaw coming out. In other words he's close but around the 20-24 mark. I expect that to change over the next year or so and for him to become a staple in the team.

Watt ? I'd be worried that we still had Watts.

As others have alluded to I'm sure his bung ankle affected his lateral movement in 2017. He missed 5 months in his draft year due to a stress fracture in his ankle and it was the same ankle that was operated on over the summer. Internally the club rates him highly. At a supporter function it was said he's got healthy doses of nastiness in that if he needs to run through a backman he won't hesitate. Those that have been at training have noticed a stronger body and with that comes added confidence. I also appreciate why some have queries, especially in the light of Charlie Curnow. But I'm quietly confident we still have a potentially good key forward on our hands.

You're embarrassing yourself. For his size his speed and agility is exceptional. What do you watch ? Dangerfield is the fastest player in the AFL. He makes Hunt look slow. Hunt can't match Jordan Murdoch and Dangerfield makes Murdoch look pedestrian in half-time GF sprints. Judd's speed was also elite. Martin's speed was one of his elite traits in his draft year. He ran 2.89 seconds for the 20 metre sprint. Ablett's speed is good, but not in the class of the above. 3 seconds or less for the 20 metre sprint puts you in the top 20% at draft combine. Petracca ran 3 seconds flat, which for his build is exceptional and he'd be quicker now having been in the AFL system for years. Some comments on Petracca pre-draft (different links): "When he goes forward, he proves to be an extremely difficult match-up: he's strong on the lead and tricky at ground level. His quick thinking in tight spaces is elite, and he also has leg speed to get out of trouble or hunt down opponents." "Despite carrying much more weight than most midfielders his age he has elite agility and evasion with an excellent sprint." St Kilda FC ✔@stkildafc Christian Petracca has just completed the 20 metre sprint! The result: 3 seconds flat. #AFLCombine 6:00 PM - Oct 1, 2014

What an odd thing to say. His speed is very good. Especially for a Mack Truck.

Whisky review #21: 1495 Blended Scotch Whisky Here's one to avoid, Read on at your own peril! This whisky is called 1495 which refers to the first mention in historic text of the distillation of whisky in Scotland. I could go on but this whiskey doesn't deserve the attention. This is bad whisky! My lowest scoring whisky yet! http://kevlikeswhiskey.blogspot.com.au/2016/06/whisky-review-22-1495-blended-scotch.html

After over two years I thought it was time for an update. No. of deaths attributed to radiation from Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster ? Zero. This is good news, right ? Probably not for some.

He's building size nicely.

If highlight reels were worthless recruiters wouldn't pore over them for hours. And yes, they watch them countless times live, speak to coaches, family, conduct interviews, etc. Petty was drafted earlier than Oscar; Petty was named most valuable player for his state in the under 18 carnival; Petty was named in the under 18 AA team (Oscar didn't make it). I don't think it's a stretch to say that Petty has a higher ceiling than Oscar. I think Petty, Oscar and Lever will be able to team well together in 2-3 years.

There seems to be a common misconception that Oliver isn't overly quick. Oliver's pace for an inside bull is superb, we just don't see it enough. But if you watch him closely his burst speed is very good. For the record, Oliver tested 2.99 seconds for the 20 metre sprint prior to the draft. Anything sub 3 seconds is elite. If you read the bios for players in this year's draft such as Ed Richards, Charlie Ballard, Lochie O'Brien, Matthew Ling, Jaidyn Stephenson, you'll note that high up on their strengths is their speed. Only one broke 3 seconds (Stephenson 2.97). Thankfully, this misconception about Oliver's speed was dispelled in the media this year: 7/4/2017 Melbourne Demon Oliver leads army of stars Michael Gleeson He is like Cripps or Sydney's Josh Kennedy, a tall and strong midfielder who with longer arms have better reach to be able to get clear of a tackle and still get a handball out. The difference between Oliver and Cripps or Kennedy is that he is quick. I know, he doesn't look like he is, but he is. The assumption with an inside player is they are one-paced plodders often with good endurance, Oliver bucks that. He is quick and has decent foot skills. "He accelerates through the contest," Melbourne player/coach performance manager Brendan McCartney said. "He is electric. He just has great power.

He already has one. "Chugga". http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/5073408/rising-star-charlie-spargo-excited-ahead-of-afl-draft/

If you're good enough you're tall enough. If you're not ...

Steven Smith was OK. But little more than that.

You know you've been pathetic for 50 years when key defenders of the calibre of Danny Hughes and Steven Smith are making teams. I'm not saying that's wrong by the way, just an indictment.

Good effort, although Grinter wouldn't make my second side let alone the first.

...

Petracca isn't the best performed (yet) of the class of 2014. But if there was an open market he'd still be the first one every other club would take.

Some here will know of Colin Wisbey who has a quality eye for footy and players. His detail is legendary, although I don't provide that here. Here's his rankings from 2014 prior to the draft: 1 Christian Petracca 2 Jake Lever 3 Caleb Marchbank 4 Jarrod Pickett 5 Angus Brayshaw 6 Jordan De Goey 7 Liam Duggan 8 Nakia Cockatoo 9 Patrick McCartin 10 Paul Ahern 11 Jayden Laverde 12 Jarrod Garlett 13 Blaine Boekhorst 14 Touk Miller 15 Billy Evans 16 Alex Neal-Bullen 17 Lachlan Weller 18 Hugh Goddard 19 Marc Pittonet 20 Daniel McKenzie 21 Connor Blakely 22 Sam Durdin 23 Brayden Maynard 24 Edward Vickers-Willis 25 Joe Maishman 26 Corey Ellis 27 Daniel Nielson 28 Peter Wright 29 Lukas Webb 30 Harrison Wigg 31 Tom Lamb 32 Daniel Butler 33 Jack Lonie

Wow. At 21 Lever is the no.1 intercept possession player in the game, just shading Rance (9.5 to 9.4), and the no. 2 intercept mark in the game, just behind McGovern (3.8 to 3.6). This isn't a 25 or 27 year old wanting to come home. We've got this guy from the age of 22. Worth every cent.

You're saying exactly what my lunatic Brother has been saying all day. I'll say to you what I said to him. I don't care. You be annoyed and I'll be happy. It's not an argument I have any interest in continuing.

I understand that. I've been arguing with my furious Brother all afternoon. The MFC thought the deal fair and obviously want to retain a good reputation. By crunching the numbers in this deal Lever is valued at pick 4. He's top 3 in the 2014 draft now. If you want to get the best young defender in the league out from a rival club you have to pay a fair ransom. This club was addicted to draft picks for years. Let's be happy we've got our best trade in 20 years and we're one of the top couple of young lists in the competition.

We may well trade back in.