dazzledavey36

It's Maia Westrupp

Really? If so he seems to have bulked up a bit.

To the people who went yesterday, was there any invitee's training with us yesterday??

Whos the tall guy next to Dan Nicholson???

Interesting Roosy mentions he does meditation.

Good on him, no wonder he seems so relaxed.

Master I'm the guy in the blue t-shirt who recently suffered a stroke and also a busted knee which has resulted in weight gain but please don't let facts get in the way of off hand smart ass comments. Only makes you come across as an up yourself [censored] jockey but thats only one mans view.

And i think i speak for many that live up in the country and no access to training, that we really appreciate the training reports! I get a thrilm reading them and im sure many others do.

I know i have paid out a bit on Saty lately but one thing i cant question is this blokes dedication to going down and watching the boys train and giving us the inside info. Keel it going Saty.

Thanks to everyone else on the training reports.

Melbourne draftee Jayden Hunt –

taken by the Dees with pick 57 - comes from good footy stock. The 18-year-old is a descendent of five-time Collingwood premiership player Harold Rumney, who was part of the famous Magpies' outfit that won four successive flags from 1927-1930.

JHK is more then a handy specialist forward pocket.

He averaged 23 disposals this year playing in the TAC. His ability to push up the ground and provide run and drive and then go up forward and kick a couple of goals is a handy weapon to have up your sleeve. The player that does this the best is Steven Motlop.

Music to my ears....I didn't have any inside info, but I could tell from Derek Hine's expression after calling out Freeman's name that he was not an overly happy pappy. What I love the most about that, is that the Pies must have been holding out hope for Salem right to the last moment - and that make's us getting Salem all the more sweeter.

Rubbish

Hine is just as rapt getting Freeman then Salem. Both will be good players. Unless he comes out and says that he wasn't overly happy pappy then you cant just make a judgment from face expressions.

Brad Miller playing for Casey once kicked 10 on Tippett then playing for Gold Coast in the VFL. No matter how much he's improved that always sticks with me.

That was actually against Karmicheal Hunt, not Tippett

I'd put him on the rookie list just so he stops drink driving, getting smashed and/or high and get him off the darts.

So you think a rookie list spot would just totally turn him around as a person...

I spoke to him at training and took his photo, it's on my twitter, his recovery is where it should be, he was leaving to do off legs work with Dean Kent, no limp, no strapping

Interesting looking at your twitter you seem to try and interact with the players with the thousand of times you talk to them, not one of them ever reply back to you...?

Anyway I seriously hope we pick up Eli Templeton.

Just a natural footballer that would add depth to our midfield. I was absolutely shocked he was overlooked.

Runs hard and has a massive tank with good skills to go along with.

Bit left field here, but I wonder if with 3 established ruckmen next year and another just added, plus another I think on their list, would the Dockers see Hannath as surplus. If we still wanted him and if they don't, we could do a deal with the Dockers to delist him, on the basis we PSD or rookie him and take up his contract payment.

Then again if we don't want him or they do, it's all over.

Nicholson could be delisted and taken back as a rookie if we wanted to use our PSD pick, which I hope we do, if there is a better player available.

I seriously doubt that would ever happen..

Nicho has been training with the boys already hasn't he??

Paige's thought on our draft...

Pick 9: CHRISTIAN SALEM (Sandringham Dragons) 183cm, 81kg

There are some elite ball users in this draft, but Salem can class himself a cut above most, so damaging is his ball use. Salem is the quickest kick in this years draft pool, and to describe the way he moves the ball, its like he releases a sling-shot when he fires off a kick that he puts a ridiculous amount of speed on, which often confuses, and catches out defenders. Along with his damaging disposal, is his ability to hold his feet, rarely fumble or turn the ball over and always offers exceptional disposal under pressure. A supremely gifted athlete, Salem is a brilliant runner and when he takes off down a wing with the ball in hand, it is poetry in motion he is a ripper!

Pick 40: JAY KENNEDY-HARRIS (Oakleigh Chargers) 173cm, 68kg

The best, and most polished small forward of this years draft crop, Jay Kennedy-Harris is going to enjoy feeding off the crumbs on Melbournes big units, but he's much more than an opportunist small forward. The Oakleigh Chargers Co-Captain finds, and wins his own ball, and has shown he's more than capable of playing through the midfield where his tackling pressure and line-breaking run splits teams open. Kennedy-Harris has some serious hurt factor, and has a penetrating kick for a little guy. The big wrap on him, is his defensive pressure as a forward and was ranked number one at Oakleigh for pressure acts throughout the TAC Cup season.

Pick 57: JAYDEN HUNT (Brighton Grammar)

Plucked from obscurity in the AGS system, Hunt is described as a development project player who has played a lot of football with the likes of Christian Salem and Josh Kelly at Brighton Grammar. Hunt is a brilliant and polished kick on both sides of his body, however missed selection for the initial Sandringham Dragons side which was already choc-full of elite midfielders (including Essendon's Zach Merrett and Collingwoods Nathan Freeman). Nonetheless, Hunt is a wiry midfielder who'll spend a good season in the gym building on his light frame. Hes quite quick, has explosive pace and knows how to finish on goal.

Verdict: 8/10

Christian Salem will go on to be a star, thats just about a sure thing but plucking Jay Kennedy-Harris so late was an absolute steal for the Dees who address their need for a gun small forward, to crumb at the feet of their big boys Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes, Jeremy Howe and Mitch Clark in what is shaping as a multi-dimensional and imposing forward line. Im a big fan of what the Dees are done, both at the draft table and during the trade period which has really put the Dees in a much stronger position on field.

Just heard Mark Fine talk about Jayden Hunt on SEN. He noticed him at a Caulfield Grammar v Old Brighton game and said that Kelly and Salem gave the ball to Hunt as he was the go to man. In his opinion if Salem and Kelly were in the top 10 then Hunt had to be No 1. He reckons the kid is an absolute GUN!

Robert Shaw knows a lot about him and footy wan't his primary sport - I think tennis was and he has spoken with Fine a lot about this kid.

He has had a growth spurt and Finey reckons he has somehow flown under the radar and may be the smokey of the draft when we look back..

Good to hear, sounds like an exciting prospect!

And who? Gawn and......?

Breese?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-says-it-made-the-right-call-to-part-with-pick-2-after-snaring-chris-salem/story-fni5f22o-1226766327822?from=herald+sun_rss

Was reading this article in regards to Tyson and pick 2 when this caught my eye..

Roos also hopes to improve his footballers as human beings, one of the reasons the entire list will take part in Monday's Walk Against Family Violence from Federation Square.

"It is something I have been involved in through a family friend and I am really proud to be part of it and to get the word. There is no question our footballers are in more of a bubble and can be shielded, so it is important to expose them to these kind of causes to get them some education."

What a man this bloke is. you could walk into his office with open arms and talk just about anything whether its family or personal issues.

Well done Roosy

"I see no difference between the talent available at picks 2 and 9. guys like Lennon and Freeman are every bit as good as Aish and Scharenberg"

You seemed to rate him not that long ago.

Freeman is a good prospect, but we picked another good prospect. Just leave it at that and wait till they play a game.

I wish I could Like this!

Freeman has no awareness and no clue

Salem has an incredible footy brain

Bit harsh on Freeman.

Obviously has a clue to be drafted top 10. and looking at the highlights his awareness seems fine.

Love this pick and interesting to hear Jason Taylor rated him as a top 20 pick and o do I aswell.

Just a natural forward pocket in the Neade/Jeff Garlett mould who will make things a lot easier for the likes of Clark and Hogan.

Very mature head on him and bring leadership to our team which is very handy. Likes to work hard off the field and put the dedication into his football, so we defiantly have a good one here.

Clint Bizzell would be happy with this!

Wowee the kid can run!

good marking skills above shoulders and good kicking skills. He is listed as 187cm with a massive growth spurt he had this year I wouldn't be surprise if he gets to 190cm..

Would make a good wingman half back flanker.

People are seriously overacting the Freeman Kicking issue a bit..

People forget that in past 2 years Pies have lost Dawes, Wellingham, Thomas, Shaw and a bunch of others to get the picks used on the kids. Of they mess up development they are in big trouble. Also they have thrown away any 2014 premiership aspirations with the youth policy.

They will still play deep in the finals next year and win another flag in 2 or 3 years im afraid..

Jay Kennedy-Harris, Oakleigh Chargers
173cm, 68kg
Comparison: Jake Neade (stronger)
For any club selecting Jay, it is a very big risk. The Charger, who represented Vic Metro at the U18 carnival, missed All-Australian selection despite playing very well in patches. Kennedy-Harris is relatively new to the game and he will take a very long time to develop; however the skills he possesses will force teams to take a long look at him. Jay is a terrific kick, he can spot up his team-mates easily up to a distance of 45 metres. He is a competent small forward, Jay can create goals using his explosive pace. He has great belief in his kicking and for good reason; playing on a forward flank he can tear a team apart. To add to this, Kennedy-Harris is one of the rare players in the game that can make an impact despite not dominating possession.

Another thing he uses this pace for is his defensive work. Jay’s defensive efforts are top notch, he can run down opponents with his acceleration and speed. His tackling is also a standout in his game, despite being relatively short Jay is a solid tackler; his strength is shown here. There have been a number of occasions at TAC Cup level when Jay has run down his opponent and lifted his team-mates. Kennedy-Harris clearly needs to put on a lot of weight to be an effective player as a professional and when he does his tackles will only become stronger and his intensity more impressive.

By far the biggest area for improvement for Kennedy-Harris is his endurance. Far too often, at both TAC and U18 level, he has gone missing from games for long periods of time. Nevertheless, he has talent in bucket-loads and a few years on the training track should fix his issue with running out games. When he is “on” he is one of the most damaging midfielders in this year’s crop and that is undoubtedly saying something.