ChaserJ

There’s enough speculative mail out there where you could connect the dots well enough at this point, but the writer apparently has talent/recruitment roles at Calder Cannons & Coburg VFL programs. Mail could be aggregated spec, but the profiling and matching to club needs probably has some good insight behind the content.

There’s a pretty good draft preview for each club here: https://houseoffooty.com.au/2023-afl-draft-club-by-club-previews/

This is a pretty good phantom. The rationale for selections is very sound: https://houseoffooty.com.au/2023-afl-draft-phantom-draft/

Final power rankings from ESPN’s Jasper Chellappah. Has deviated a little from the broad view of some players (eg Caddy higher, Watson lower than other rankings), which I like: https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/38843195/afl-draft-power-rankings-2023-jasper-chellappah-harley-reid-number-one-top-50-prospects

It was interesting that other clubs are the ones that contacted Jason Dover re:Dees consideration of trading p6 for WCE future 1st. Melb would wargame all poss scenarios, so wouldn't be surprised if we’d talked about potential swap for WCE’s ‘24 1st rounder & then canvassed the clubs with picks 7-10 to see if they would potentially do a deal for 11 & a further pick we would get from WC. They possibly then would have fed that on to Dover, hence the convo & line from Melb. Working to get pick 1 would still be the higher ranked objective, so Dees have to say they’d take Curtin (I’d very much hope he’d be in the frame for us regardless), otherwise you lose all leverage in trade talks. Curtin’s camp probably prefer he stay out West, so serves them well to put that out there one way or another.

Hey, remember the last time we had a number 1 pick, Brock?

Re-read your question @Damo and updated my reply.

Yep, providing all of that happens before the earliest current selection being utilised has been utilised.

Would hope we’d wait until after pick 1 was taken to execute a trade for p3 or 4.

Might well have been. Curnow had been hovering around the best 4 or 5 rated players for a chunk of the season and in the mix for our selection before dropping late. A few thought he was the most talented player in it at the time.

Yeah, I was a little flat when I had a look ahead yesterday. Still, never know, just look at Bombers Eagles.

I think it’s Crows v Roos this week. Is it the Saints we’re barracking for against the Lions? If trophy is decided on percentage (rather than split amongst teams tied), a win for us & Lions loss virtually wraps it up. I suspect it’ll come down to that last game though.

Good yarn on Dan Curtin in today's Age: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/why-top-afl-draft-prospect-put-a-media-ban-on-himself-20231019-p5edl2.html

Was recently chatting to a former Tassie premier about the team and its prospects. They said that the team was effectively no chance to be in place on current timelines. Horrible contracts for Tas government re: stadium build (unviable based on current contract) and ongoing fees to AFL, not enough fed money, variable support from sections of the public who believe the money could be spent elsewhere and only vague backing from the AFL (unlike the northern franchises) who want to look like they are supporting a Tassie team. The opposition (who are the same colour as the fed government that provided funding) have said they will scrap plans and will only go ahead with establishment if contracts are renegotiated. The path ahead is littered with significant obstacles. I don't think we should be tailoring our recruiting based on the framework of the plan for commencing establishment of a Tassie team sometime in the future.

From the linked article, the below immediately precedes the statement about Caddy not getting to Geelong: 'Hawthorn likes small forward Nick Watson and Western Bulldogs are eyeing gun midfielder Ryley Sanders at pick five, leaving star goal kicker Nate Caddy for Melbourne at pick six.'

We’d probably need something else back as well if we’re playing a decisive role in helping those clubs achieve their goals. Would think one of those later 1st round picks North have stashed or WC’s 2nd rounder.

Twomey’s Phantom Form guide has dropped. Last one before the phantom draft: https://www.afl.com.au/news/1054452/cal-twomeys-phantom-form-guide-top-draft-prospects-october-ranking (just pipped me @Nascent!)

Turns out we were in talks with Roos & GC (early in FA period) which would have seen us give up 6, 14 & F1 for pick 3 and a '24 end of 1st rd pick (Nth compo).

Anyone catch Gettable today? Cal was saying Dees, GC & Roos were in talks early in the FA period to swap picks. GC’s pick 5 would have gone out, Dees would have given up 6, 14 & F1, Roos throw in pick 3 & a ‘24 end of 1st rd pick (compo). Dees would have taken pick 3 & Roos future end of 1st rd, Roos would take picks 5 & 6 & GC take home the rest for further pick swaps and bid matching. Obviously the deal didn’t get done, but interesting that we explored trading our hand to get to pick 3 (not 1). This is all prior to Dogs locking in pick 4, so were we expressly trying land in front of Hawks (at that point heavily linked to Duursma, also like Watson)? If the Roos remain keen, a variation of that deal could be possible if the Eagles decide to draft Reid.

Done for a future 3rd

Gee, that really was a mixed bag of a top 10.

You'd spend the year talking to Cadman, Ugle-Hagan, B King and/or Logan McDonald. All coming out of contract at around the time Petty would be assessing whether he wants to formally request a trade.

If North take Duursma (strong chance if they don’t get pick 1) Hawks are tipped to pivot to Watson. Dogs probably then select Sanders. Given they had Watson in mind when they traded up, would be slightly disappointing for them (but think Sanders would be a good fit with Dogs mids - Smith aside- getting on slightly).