ChaserJ

I'd only be guessing mate. Tbh I thought our race was run last year, so was surprised that there was any talk at all (of us and Danger). If we have kept the thread from going slack, I'm even more impressed with how quietly it's been done to this point.

Just noticed this in Robbo's 'likes, dislikes': 2. Patrick Dangerfield: Absolutely think he’s gone, although the Crows remain confident. Still, think it’s the Cats for him, although the Demons talk won’t go away. Anyhow, the guy gives his all and his performance against Richmond was one of his best.

Cheers HL, don't know about most knowledge, lots of informed posters here. From the Championships, two that stood out when games were tight were Balic and Greshem. In the last round in particular Balic was influential in Metro's comeback against SA. Greshem was consistent throughout, but has limitations that will likely prevent him from going too high, but cracks in and is very consistent in effort and performance. Ben Keays and Kieran Lovell impressed in these situations during the Champs too. With TAC Cup finals coming up I look forward to seeing which players step up. It's a time when prospects can really push themselves up the order. Unfortunately Balic is gone for the season (Sandy look like missing out anyway).

In terms of ruck forwards who might be available, not too many going around. Off the top of my head, there’s Grimley at Hawthorn (probably between he and Ceglar for back up ruck duties at Hawthorn next year), Lycett at West Coast, Gorringe at GC, Hannath at Freo and Daw at North. If we were going to invest in one through the draft, Flynn from NSW seems like the one that plays the dual role the best. Flynn’s potentially tied to GWS through the academy, but they probably won’t have the points to grab him. Late 2nd onwards probably his range. Harry McKay’s a forward who could give a chop out in the ruck, but don’t think we’d go that way with our first rounder.

I thought I read about a package deal of Myers and Trav Colyer for pick 2 at the time.

Not a F/A, would be trade or PSD. If Brisbane did want Howe, I wonder if we could swing a deal to bring in Sam Mayes the other way. After a good first year, and reasonable second, he looks to have stagnated big time. Mayes is OOC next year.

That would be my concern. Has played the 1 game this year, has only played 10+ games in a year 3 times in 8 (with a best of 20 in 2013). Wouldn't want to give up all that much, his durability raises a few flags for mine. Had good years in 2013 & '14, long, left foot kick, big bodied winger who can win his own ball, can turn it over a bit when he's not on. Rohan Connolly did a nice piece on him last year: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendons-david-myers-came-pretty-close-to-giving-up-on-afl-dream-20140829-109neh.html

Just on Tom Lynch of the Gold Coast variety, he's out of contract at the end of 2016. Be interesting to see how his contract situation plays out if GC have another poor year next year. Along with Prestia considered to be one of the leaders at GC. Ollie Wines another OOC at the end of 16.

10 vs GWS in 2013. Was good friends with Watt's from their junior basketball days. Haven't seen him this year, but statistically he's going well. 16 games, 18 disp p/g, 7 marks p/g and 22 goals. Has a pretty good tank, plays that lead up HF role very well, and would absolutely fit in nicely to our forward structure. Had hoped we would be into Tom Lynch of the GC variety, but this one would still be a good get. Edit: Lynch's assist numbers are excellent. Leads the league this year. Had 3 on the weekend to go with his 3 goals in a big loss to the Swans.

I reckon mate, very envious of the way they've gone about refreshing that list (with or without Scharenberg).

I thought the Pies got a steal when he slid down to 6, but he could well demand a trade back home without playing a game for Collingwood.

Fairly certain Billings is the one we would have selected.

Any word on whether we have?

As we continually butchered the ball yesterday (and last week, and the week before that) Parish was the player that came to mind as our number 1 preference/need in the draft. Milera should be the other one if Parish is gone (although pick 6ish will be regarded as too high, late first rounder the mark for him).

Fair point on the recruiting of senior players. Not saying the Sainters young blokes aren't good, just that they weren't the ones that drove the victory yesterday. The youngsters are comparable and only time will tell whether Salem, Petracca, ANB and Omac (+Brayshaw & Hogan who played Sunday). Jake Niall wrote an article about this on the Age over the weekend: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-demons-better-placed-for-future-title-run-than-st-kilda-saints-20150725-gikghj.html

Have a look at the Saints best players on Sunday vs ours. Riewoldt, Gilbert, Dempster and Schneider are seasoned campaigners and even Roberton is mid 20's. Their experienced players led the way in the wet. Viney and Gawn were by far our best yesterday. We were beaten by a better team, no doubt. Saints did everything better than us yesterday and I was very impressed by their tackling pressure and contested ball, and their blueprint looks good. They consistently broke our tackles, and their tackles stuck. They also had all but one player get at least 10 disposals (not including the sub), we had four. Michie came on and got 9 in limited time. Stretch needs a spell, and Vandenberg looks to be struggling now as well. However, Saints fans are still looking at that team and wondering how long it will take before the young blokes are the ones that step up in these sorts of games. Riewoldt, Gilbert, Dempster and Schneider are not the future for the Saints. Our recruiters need to continue to build the team, next on the list has to be a player that can use the ball well. Getting Salem back will help, as will Petracca next year, but we still have too many sloppy kicks on the team.

Melbourne for Prestia, Carlton for Treloar (he idolised Juddy).

His defensive running and accountability probably the ones that come up the most. Kicking can sometimes be untidy, and at 182cm isn't quite the big bodied midfielder that's in vogue. That said, his positives still outweigh the negatives. Wins plenty of ball inside and outside, very good pace, aggression and goal kicking from midfield make for a very good footballer.

Treloar sweepstakes appear on in ernest. Would hope that we would at least buy a ticket... http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/gws-adam-treloar-likely-to-leave-for-victorian-club-20150723-gij9i3.html

Yes please.

Sure, in terms of volume of statistical output, there probably isn't a sample large enough to make a statistically meaningful comparison between NicNat and Gawn. That might take one or two more seasons, really. There's also the age factor. Whilst they're only one draft apart, Gawn was very young for his draft year and virtually a year and a half younger than Naitanui. Add the fact that Gawn lost his draft year + 2012, he still has a fair bit of development in front of him. What I would say is the traits that Gawn possesses and has shown off in game allow you to make a judgement of what he is capable of doing on a regular basis. His skillset is already beyond a number of experienced ruckman in the AFL which makes him a pretty valuable commodity. If he continues to utilise that skillset over time, then the stats will really just add to his value and allow for a more meaningful comparison between he and NicNat. Issue with the comparisons are that despite being (potentially) dominant ruckman, they both have very distinct points of difference, which are game breaking. I rate what NicNat brings, and also think Maxy's going to be a very good player for us over the journey.

True, but there's no reason to think that Gawn's stats will grade out dramatically by the end of the season. There’s no question that Gawn’s sample size is small by comparison to NicNat’s. It doesn’t mean you can’t extrapolate some meaningful observations from what he’s put up in that time. NicNat will continue to be the most athletic big man in the competition and his clearance work is exceptional for a 200cm player. What he doesn’t have is the ability to read play well enough to get around the ground as a link up option ala Cox or marking forward option. His best footy is going to be around the ball. What we’ve seen from Gawn is the ability to link up, take multiple contested marks and be a presence around the ground. He won’t be the stoppage influence that NicNat is, but his tapwork has been very good all the same. His chase down tackles have also been impressive. There’s no reason to think that Gawn won’t be able to provide these things going forward, he should only improve from here. The traits and capabilities won't disappear, but trick is consistency.

Don't imagine that Port would take that for Wines, and I haven't heard any noise about him wanting to leave yet. That said, Wines is off contract in 2016 and we should maintain contact just in case he entertains leaving at that point. He'd be close to the no.1 young midfielder at any club that I'd love us to have.

I notice Will Langford still hasn't re-signed with the Hawks, and it doesn't seem like happening anytime soon. Wonder if Roosy has our list manager chasing a Joey Kennedy style raid on the Hawks.

Would be happy enough to throw a rookie lifeline to Butcher or Todd Elton, who could be on the way out at Richmond. Crozier another we could get cheaply.