Gator

The best commodity we have right now to gain traction in Melbourne City is Jesse Hogan and, of course, winning. As Lance Franklin showed, kids identify with a marquee player. Franklin was huge in elevating Hawthorn's brand - along with the 2008 flag. Off and on-field, Hogan is the best thing going for this club in eons.

I don't rate him much at all.

If we do pick him up you'll obviously have your answer. Is that the game he played off half-back and only got 9 possessions ? If so, yes, it was an aberration.

Someone says "will be an Essendon boy very soon" re Parish. Twomey replies "more unlikely than likely", meaning he'll be a Dee in his opinion.

Toumpas never played like Parish as a mid in juniors. In fact, Toumpas had one of the worst contested possession percentages going around. It's the same problem in the AFL, but only magnified. They're chalk and cheese.

Because he's considered a far better midfielder. Francis' best position is in defence as a third tall. From your post I can only conclude you haven't seen this video: http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/video/2015-10-30/draft-prospect-darcy-parish

He seems a fantastic decision maker with great anticipation. He never stops moving and initiating. He's always trying to make something happen. Where Toumpas couldn't evade and looked weak in the contest it's the opposite with Parish. I'm no expert on him, but it's hard not to like what you see.

How did I act like a smart alec ? By saying "I doubt this, so please post his comments or link." That's being a smart alec ? If I've got this right, every time you question another poster you're being a smart alec ? Do you want me to highlight every time you do this ? Look, Stu, don't answer. We're not good for each other and I'll adjust my settings accordingly.

Because people often interpret comments of others less than satisfactorily. The amount of times I've heard peoples comments from a radio interview inaccurately reported here is astounding. So now, rather than take reportage on face value I like to read the comments for myself and judge accordingly.

Snoop Dog: Sam Weideman (Eastern Ranges / 196cm / 91kg) Terrific young prospect who we just didn't get to see enough of this year but the little we did was super impressive at times.He also showed us a fair bit last year as a bottom ager and suspect had Gary Pert trying to get grandsons included in the F/S rules. Presents as the best tall forward in this draft albeit Harry McKay pretty close for mine. Sam is a natural forward unlike guys like Boyd etc who have been drafted high in previous years. I think coaches really value key forwards that haven't got their success camped in the goal square clunking marks but rather kids who understand how, when and where to lead. He has real speed and many will find it hard to close space on him once he is ahead of them. Once he has the space ahead of him he will use his long arms and good hands to clunk them and his finishing is generally pretty good albeit has scope for some improvement. The knock I have on him is his consistency but that happens a lot with young talls and his kicking at times is a bit erratic. Loads of potential for mine. Next best kid for mine is Clayton Oliver which would have taken if Melbourne needed another mid but they need a tall forward and hence only other consideration was Harry McKay who was bloody close.

From Snoop Dog, who's a solid observer... He hasn't yet done his phantom Draft, but this is his view on Parish in another type of communal draft: # 3 Melbourne - Darcy Parish (Geelong Falcons / 181cm / 74kg) Terrific player who have seen plenty of. Probably not as big as you want your midfielders these days but he ticks nearly every box. Very clever player around the stoppages who can win it and create space through the congestion to get away and clear the ball. Actually has real bounce about him and would think he would be a hard player to track and stay on top of as he is always on the move. As a bottom ager I thought he was a bit outside but he was a terrific ball winner this year and has really rounded him out. His ball skills are very good (averages circa 70% DE) and he is particularly good at using lateral kicks to create the play and set team mates up. His vision is elite and his spacial awareness very good to. Just doesn't really get flustered. From a defensive aspect notwithstanding the frame he loves to tackle and whilst an average 2-3 at champs / TAC he isn't averse to it but it is an area he could do some more work on to try and get that up around 5+ per game. Always love to watch how these kids go vs men and really rated his performance for the Academy side vs Blues and Werribee. He was hard at it and really competitive and I think the game vs the Blues was particularly good. Only knock is he didn't test that well at the combine which i was surprised by because when you watch him that is not the sense you get. Not sure where he will start at AFL level. He has shown he is very good off a HB flank, demonstrated this year he is a very good all round midfielder and has pushed forward as well to kick goals. He has a very light frame though and he won't be pushed to the middle to quickly I would have thought and with mids like Jones, Petracca, Brayshaw, Tyson and Viney they can afford to protect him a bit. With Salem & Bugg off HB wouldn't mind betting he starts as a HF flanker. Building a very talented group of juniors these Demons ...

I doubt this, so please post his comments or link.

I did.

It's funny. I haven't read one poster who articulated any degree of insight into the negotiations from this draft period, yet apparently, after the event, it's passe. I accept it's not all ground breaking, but I found the interaction of the characters interesting and found it a good read. Clearly, I'm not as clever as some.

His top 10 doesn't include Melbourne's 2nd selection, which is a pretty poor oversight.

AFL Draft 2015: Melbourne set to pick midfielder Darcy Parish ahead of Essendon http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-2015-melbourne-to-pick-midfielder-darcy-parish-at-no-3-before-essendon/news-story/596e6c2b20b18ca5b7a2d1e654ae6578

So it's not a lottery.

Thanks. Yes, it was interesting and one can't help but align with this comment as a Melbourne supporter: Noble says that his Harvard lessons encouraged him to take "a more holistic" approach to trades, focusing less on one trade than on the aggregate outcome in the exchange period; the Crows might not have gained Troy Menzel from the Blues for pick 28, for instance, had they not finished the Dangerfield deal early. We perhaps didn't know it, but one can't help feeling we were in very good hands during this trade period. They had an overall strategic plan that netted telling results.

As I said, it's impossible to be categoric with any argument, but common sense tells me it's a far less valid argument. Parish was no chance of being overlooked by Essendon, such is their dire need for quality in their midfield, whereas Curnow is a genuine chance to be available at pick 7. If Essendon only had one pick it's feasible they'd overlook Parish, but not when they have two. Twelve months ago Weideman was being bracketed with Schache and Weitering as the quality tall of the draft. There's also Francis who can play at both ends and the middle, albeit he's better in defence. So if we assume Parish takes up one of those picks Essendon still have a choice between Francis, Curnow, Weideman or even Collins as a potential tall forward. It wouldn't surprise me if Essendon take another mid in Mathieson or Oliver their midfield is that putrid. In summary, there's no way Essendon overlook Parish considering they have picks 4 and 5, but it's entirely feasible they overlook Curnow.

Melbourne needed pick 3 because they thought the player they'd earmarked wouldn't be there at pick 6. One club had picks between 3 and 6 - Essendon. If we think Melbourne have recently been light on for mids take a look at Essendon. Watson and Stanton are geriatrics with their best footy well behind them. Zaharakis hasn't taken the next step. If anything he's regressed. Myers is a disappointment. Hocking is a good player, but little more than a no frills tagger. That leaves Heppell as their only class mid with years left. If you're Essendon you're taking Parish. No questions asked. Any surmising 3-4 weeks before the draft is prone to error, however, it just makes sense that Melbourne want the class mid in this draft. Especially when he's exactly what we need.

Just part of due diligence. He'd be one of a few in the mix at 7.

Steve, you are not allowed to discuss a player's frame pre-draft.

And there's your glaring issue. Hogan is the only quality forward. We desperately need a Gunston, Stringer or Darling type. Someone who isn't the main focus, but can kick 50+ goals. I don't disagree that we need outside class, but 50 goal talls are much harder to find, which is why I like the idea of Curnow. The best talls are usually taken early. Vince, Jones, Viney, Tyson, vandenBerg, Brayshaw, Petracca, Trengove, Salem, Stretch, ANB, and now Kennedy, Melksham and Bugg provide a solid group who can rotate through the middle. It really depends on who our recruiters think are best available. They may think Curnow has huge upside to partner Hogan and is too good to ignore. Obviously many of our mids are a work in progress, but if they reach the heights expected we'll be pretty well covered except for a real line breaker. I'd rather that be the last piece in the puzzle than overlook a potential Stringer type. Although, I also reckon Petracca could be our Stringer and better

He's a harmless supporter that is passionate about the Dees. And that's all that matters.

Did you just hear his dulcet tones ?